VATICAN Patriarch Rai: that Lebanese politicians listen to Francis, leaving ‘personal interests’ aside

Upon his return from Bahrain, the pontiff appealed to the ruling class of the land of cedars. The Maronite patriarch hopes that the Pope will be “heard”. The apostolic trip had to be canceled and was never rescheduled. Closeness and prayer for the nation and its people.

Beirut () – On November 6, Pope Francis made an “appeal” to Lebanese politicians, urging them to “put aside (their) personal interests”, given that on November 1, when Michel Aoun’s term ended, the country has entered an indefinite stage of presidential vacancy. “We strongly desire – commented the Maronite Patriarch Card. Beshara Raï – let the call he has made be heard [en estos días] Pope”.

“Lebanon is a pain for me,” lamented Pope Francis during the traditional press conference on board the plane, on the return flight from Bahrain, at the end of the pastoral visit to the Gulf monarchy from November 3 to 6. Because Lebanon is not just a country, as another Pope before me (Saint John Paul II) had already said: “Lebanon is more than a country, it is a message”.

The pontiff stressed that “Lebanon has enormous meaning for all of us. And Lebanon is suffering at the moment. That is why I pray and take this opportunity to appeal to Lebanese politicians: put personal interests aside, seek the good of their country and come to an agreement. God first, then the homeland, and then interests.” He explained that “for now, I don’t want to say ‘save Lebanon,’ because we are not rescuers, but please, we should all support the Lebanon, help him stop this free fall, so he can regain his greatness.”

It is fair to recall that last spring the Pope, for health reasons, had to cancel a pastoral visit to Lebanon scheduled for June.

Earlier that day, the pontiff had made reference to Lebanon and “all the peoples who suffer in the Middle East”, on the sidelines of a speech he was giving in the Church of the Sacred Heart, in Manama, before bishops, priests, consecrated persons , seminarians and lay people committed to pastoral care. “As I see that the faithful of Lebanon are present here – the pontiff said at one point – I want to assure you of my prayers and closeness to this beloved country, so exhausted and tried for so long, and to all the peoples who suffer in the Middle East. “.

The Maronite Patriarch Beshara Raï also returned on November 6 from Manama, where he accompanied the Pope together with other high prelates from the East, and explained that, during their meeting, King Hamad ben Issa Al Khalifa had confirmed his “solidarity with the Lebanon “The king of Bahrain – the cardinal pointed out – has told me that he will certainly not abandon Lebanon” to its fate.

“Lebanon is going through the most dangerous moment in its political and economic history. We hope that they listen to the call that the Pope has made”, the head of the Maronite Church said yesterday during the opening of the annual session of the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Lebanon (Apecl). He also made it clear that he does not place his trust in the political class, because he is convinced that “those who made war will certainly not be able to make peace.”

Parliament has met several times over the last month but was unable to elect a new President of the Republic, because none of the candidates has managed to gather the number of votes necessary to be elected (65 votes) and it has not been possible to reach a commitment. In his homily on Sunday, the day before, Patriarch Raï had already addressed the deputies or a part of them who, he is convinced, “do not want” to elect a new head of state. “What good is your parliamentary mandate if you don’t have freedom to decide,” he cried, “at the level of electing a president? And if you have freedom of decision, it is a crime not to elect a president.”