Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai emphasized on Monday that “we are all called to preserve Lebanon so that its special role doesn’t scatter in the region,” pointing out that “the responsibility lies on all Maronites, both those residing in Lebanon and those scattered around the world.”
During the end of his visit to Melbourne at the Saint Maron Church in Redfern, he prayed that Lebanon overcomes “the difficult impasse that is threatening its identity and existence,” adding “we never lose hope.”
Earlier on Sunday, Rai accused “most politicians to have lost all meaning of power, that it became authoritarianism, serving personal interests, and neglecting the people.”
During a Sunday Mass that he presided at Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Melbourne, Australia, he invited “every person in power in Lebanon to come back to themselves and their conscience and that they remember that there is no power unless it is accompanied by sacrifice, service, and giving.”
The Patriarch, who arrived on Friday in Australia, will celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Maronite Eparchy of Australia, which is expected to be attended by around 10,000 people on Sunday, September 24 at Ken Rosewall Stadium (Homebush, New South Wales). Additionally, he will preside over the sixth conference of Maronite bishops and the heads of Maronite Monastic Orders outside the Patriarchal territory. A charity dinner will also be held in his honor on Thursday September 21.
