Maronite Patriarch Archbishop Bechara Rai sent a message of peace on Thursday from Tyre, where he toured in solidarity with the inhabitants of southern Lebanon, particularly those in border villages who have largely fled their homes in the face of ongoing Israeli bombardment since October 8, when Hezbollah opened the southern front in support of Hamas.
"The inhabitants of South Lebanon should not be afraid," said Archbishop Rai, expressing his "solidarity" with them "in the face of their sorrows." "We are in solidarity with you," he emphasized, insisting on the need to "protect" not only the Lebanese cause but also the Palestinian one, which Lebanon has been defending since 1948. In this respect, he spoke out in favor of "the two-state solution."
Emphasizing that this visit to South Lebanon is a "humanitarian duty in the face of atrocities," Archbishop Rai asserted that the "war in Gaza is uncivilized and disregards humanitarian laws." Calling it "genocide," a "war crime," and a "programmed war of devastation," he denounced the implicit collusion of the international community, which "does not raise its voice enough" to bring about a permanent ceasefire in the enclave.
On Thursday morning, the municipal councils of Rmeish, Ain Ebel and Debl called on the Patriarch to visit their villages. "A visit that could not be made, due to the security situation," according to sources close to Bkirki. In the same circles, it was affirmed that the Patriarch will visit the border villages when the situation calms down.
Accompanied by a delegation from the Council of Maronite Patriarchs and Bishops, Archbishop Rai began his tour with a prayer at the Church of Our Lady of the Seas, part of the Maronite Archdiocese of Tyre, before moving on to the Greek-Catholic Archdiocese and Dar el-Fatwa. He was welcomed by local political and military figures, as well as UNIFIL and UN agency officials.
"The inhabitants of South Lebanon should not be afraid," said Archbishop Rai, expressing his "solidarity" with them "in the face of their sorrows." "We are in solidarity with you," he emphasized, insisting on the need to "protect" not only the Lebanese cause but also the Palestinian one, which Lebanon has been defending since 1948. In this respect, he spoke out in favor of "the two-state solution."
Emphasizing that this visit to South Lebanon is a "humanitarian duty in the face of atrocities," Archbishop Rai asserted that the "war in Gaza is uncivilized and disregards humanitarian laws." Calling it "genocide," a "war crime," and a "programmed war of devastation," he denounced the implicit collusion of the international community, which "does not raise its voice enough" to bring about a permanent ceasefire in the enclave.
On Thursday morning, the municipal councils of Rmeish, Ain Ebel and Debl called on the Patriarch to visit their villages. "A visit that could not be made, due to the security situation," according to sources close to Bkirki. In the same circles, it was affirmed that the Patriarch will visit the border villages when the situation calms down.
Accompanied by a delegation from the Council of Maronite Patriarchs and Bishops, Archbishop Rai began his tour with a prayer at the Church of Our Lady of the Seas, part of the Maronite Archdiocese of Tyre, before moving on to the Greek-Catholic Archdiocese and Dar el-Fatwa. He was welcomed by local political and military figures, as well as UNIFIL and UN agency officials.
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