Christians Maronite Bishops blamed Israeli Aggression in Lebanon
In thw cover image Biden. Netanyahu and Card. Béchara Boutros RaïVERSIONE IN ITALIANO
The Maronite Bishops, gathered in the monthly assembly presided over by the Patriarch, Card. Béchara Boutros Raï, express “pain in the face of the horror of the disaster that has hit Lebanon, from the coast to the mountains, with destruction that has often affected innocent civilians” but also disapproval for “the prolonged Israeli aggression, which has caused hundreds of martyrs and victims, including the secretary general of Hezbollah, Syed Hassan Nasrallah, and many other leaders of the Shiite movement”. This was reported by Fides agency.
The Bishops “ask God for mercy for those who were killed and comfort and consolation for their families and for the wounded”. At the same time, they appeal to the international community asking “to assume its responsibilities by working for an immediate ceasefire and implementing international decisions” with a specific reference to UN Resolution number 1701. Furthermore, the Bishops insist on the urgent need for the Lebanese Parliament “to do its duty so that, after a long wait and much suffering, a new President of the Republic is elected who completes the framework of the constitutional institutions”.
The Maronite Bishops ask nations and international institutions to support the humanitarian efforts for the displaced still underway in the affected areas, also ensuring the work of the Church in aid of the wounded and the displaced through the network of its parishes, monasteries and institutions, “especially through Caritas Lebanon”. Finally, words of closeness are also expressed towards the leaders of the army and the initiatives aimed at “preventing any possible coup d’état” implemented in a country that is experiencing a moment of great difficulty and weakness.
Faced with the disaster that is hitting Lebanon, the bishops ask all Lebanese “to awaken a conscience that preserves and nourishes” the factors of national unity, with a reference to what they define as a “sign of hope in these difficult circumstances”, namely the liturgy of canonization of the martyrs of Damascus, which will be presided over by Pope Francis on Sunday 20 October.
