Bechara Rai

Rai Advocates for Open Dialogue and Reconciliation

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai stated that “it is time to begin to purify the memory together through a sincere and frank dialogue, aiming at reconciliation and strengthening balanced participation in governance and administration, in order to save Lebanon and rebuild it as a message-bearing country.” He affirmed during his Sunday sermon that ...

Budapest Launches Support Mechanism for Lebanese Christians

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó launched the “Future of Lebanon from a Christian Perspective” conference on Friday, announcing a new initiative to support Lebanese Christians. “From Budapest, we are launching a mechanism to develop programs that encourage Lebanese Christians to remain in their country,” Szijjártó said. He ...

Patriarch Rai Navigating the Delicate Situation in Bkerke

It has been 14 years since Patriarch Bechara Rai assumed the seat of the Maronite Patriarchate, as he was elected on March 15, 2011 – shortly after the popular uprising against Bashar al-Assad’s bloody regime erupted in Syria. Rai succeeded Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, who had resigned that same year, a month before Rai’s election. Sfeir had ...

Rai Reiterates Aoun's Inauguration Speech as a Call for Political Reform

In his Sunday sermon in Bkerke, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai urged Lebanon’s leaders to break free from personal interests and political deadlock, referring to the formation of the government. He called for a return to the principles outlined in the Constitution and National Pact (Taif Agreement). He stressed that Lebanon’s governance crisis ...

Maronite Patriarch Honors Sehnaoui with Order of St. Maron

In a ceremony held on Tuesday at the Patriarchal edifice in Bkerke, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai conferred the Order of St. Maron, the highest honor in the Maronite Church, upon Marwan Sehnaoui, the President of the Lebanese Order of Malta. The recognition was granted in acknowledgment of Sehnaoui’s contributions and sacrifices. During the ...

Al-Rai: It Is Time to Move Beyond Pessimism

Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai has called for a shift away from pessimism, expressing hope for a brighter future for Lebanon. Speaking from the presidential palace in Baabda after his meeting with President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday, Patriarch al-Rai highlighted the president’s wishes to swiftly form an inclusive government provided that all ...

Rai Hails President Aoun's National Vision for Building the State

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai hailed President Joseph Aoun for strongly emphasizing the state’s “exclusivity of bearing arms, investing in the Lebanese Army and adopting positive neutrality.” In the inauguration address of the first Sunday sermon after Joseph Aoun’s election, Rai said that Aoun outlined a new national strategy based on ...

Joseph Aoun Visits Bechara Rai in Bkerke

Newly elected President Joseph Aoun visited the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerkeh on Friday evening, where he was warmly received by Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai. The Patriarch congratulated Aoun on his election and expressed his hopes for the success of the commitments outlined in his inaugural address. Aoun was received at the main entrance ...

Al-Rai Urges Election of Unifying Lebanese President

Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai called on Lebanese MPs to elect a president who commands the trust of the Lebanese people and the support of international allies. During the Epiphany celebration on Monday, Patriarch al-Rai delivered his sermon and emphasized the need for a leader to meet the country’s challenges and promote unity and peaceful ...

Rai Emphasizes the Need for a President

On the first Sunday homily of the year, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai reiterated the importance of electing a President of the Republic.  Rai called for “praying for the parliamentary blocs for the success of identifying a President of the Republic.” He noted that “four days separate us from the ninth of this month when ...

Rai Cautions Against Postponing Presidential Election

In a sermon given on the International Day of Peace on Wednesday, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai called for vigilance, pointing out that “the presidential election scheduled for January 9 must take place.” He warned against postponing the session, indicating that such a maneuver would risk compromising the confidence of the Lebanese and the ...

Mawlawi from Bkerke: Syrians Entering Lebanon Illegally Are Arrested

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai met with the caretaker Minister of the Interior, Bassam Mawlawi, and the former Minister of Finance and current Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund, Jihad Azour. Upon discussing the issue of the presidential election, Mawlawi stressed that “the election of the ...