Lebanon's Catholic Bishops Demand a Ceasefire from the International Community Via UN Resolution 1701
On November 6th, the Catholic Maronite bishops, at the Patriarchal Palace in Bkerke, under the leadership of Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi (file photo - pictured above left), met with the participation of the General Superiors of the Maronite monastic orders. They discussed ecclesiastical and national affairs.
At the end of the meeting, they issued the following statement :
1. The bishops offer their thanks to God for the blessings He has bestowed upon His Church by declaring the sainthood of a number of new saints, foremost among them the martyrs of Damascus, including the Maronite brothers of Masabki. They also thank His Holiness Pope Francis for his generosity in presiding over this celebration, in which a large number of patriarchs, cardinals, bishops, priests, and thousands of believers from various countries of the world participated .
2. The bishops pause with bitterness and sorrow, before the horror of the disaster that befell Lebanon, and has so far left behind a large number of victims, destruction and devastation in villages, towns and cities in the southern suburbs, the south and the Bekaa, and a number of other Lebanese regions. They demand that the international community find a diplomatic solution to the war between Hezbollah and Israel, and declare an immediate ceasefire and implement Resolution 1701 in preparation for the return of the displaced to their towns and homes, and put an end to the Israeli attacks that violate Lebanon’s sovereignty and tamper with the lives of its citizens, the latest of which was the naval landing carried out by the Israeli army in the Batroun area, which ended with the kidnapping of a Lebanese from his place of residence .
3. The bishops salute their Beatitudes and Eminences who met at the invitation of His Beatitude the Maronite Patriarch in a spiritual summit that issued a statement that most sincerely expresses the solidarity of the Lebanese religious families in the face of the persistence of the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, especially their request to the UN Security Council to push towards issuing a quick resolution for a ceasefire, to save the Lebanese, especially the displaced among them, who are awaiting a dignified humanitarian treatment for their conditions, after winter has engulfed the country, and the displacement points have become in a very critical condition in terms of protection from rain, snow and cold .
4. The bishops applaud the initiative of the French President to hold the Paris Conference to support the people of Lebanon and its sovereignty. They welcome with gratitude the positions of the conference participants, which affirm the necessity of saving Lebanon from its ordeal, especially their readiness to provide financial assistance, especially supporting the Lebanese army in terms of financing, armament, training and qualification, in order for it to assume its sovereign responsibilities on all Lebanese territory .
5. The bishops extend their thanks to the brotherly and friendly countries that rushed to provide Lebanon with what it needs to serve its displaced sons, in terms of accommodation, food and medical supplies, wishing them continued goodness, health and peace .
6. The bishops express their satisfaction with the humane, civilized, national and cultural face with which our children met their displaced brothers, hoping for the continuation of their good reception of them, and being alert in order to confront any problems that may occur, by forming coordination committees in cooperation with the governors, municipalities, municipal unions, civil society organizations, and military and security institutions ready to provide any assistance in this field .
7. Calls on parents responsible for the educational sector to cooperate positively, and hopes that the Ministry of National Education will establish a specialized central committee representing private and public schools, to establish a clear working mechanism in order to save the school year for all students .
8. In the midst of this absurd war imposed on Lebanon, which threatens its fate as an entity and a people, the bishops call on their sons and daughters and all the Lebanese to hold fast to their faith based on the words of the Divine Teacher: Do not be afraid, I have overcome the world... and I am with you until the end of time, and to intensify prayer and acts of righteousness, asking God, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Lebanon and all its saints, to enlighten the minds of all officials so that they may work to stop the killing and destruction and establish security and peace throughout this country, this region and the world.
1. The bishops offer their thanks to God for the blessings He has bestowed upon His Church by declaring the sainthood of a number of new saints, foremost among them the martyrs of Damascus, including the Maronite brothers of Masabki. They also thank His Holiness Pope Francis for his generosity in presiding over this celebration, in which a large number of patriarchs, cardinals, bishops, priests, and thousands of believers from various countries of the world participated .
2. The bishops pause with bitterness and sorrow, before the horror of the disaster that befell Lebanon, and has so far left behind a large number of victims, destruction and devastation in villages, towns and cities in the southern suburbs, the south and the Bekaa, and a number of other Lebanese regions. They demand that the international community find a diplomatic solution to the war between Hezbollah and Israel, and declare an immediate ceasefire and implement Resolution 1701 in preparation for the return of the displaced to their towns and homes, and put an end to the Israeli attacks that violate Lebanon’s sovereignty and tamper with the lives of its citizens, the latest of which was the naval landing carried out by the Israeli army in the Batroun area, which ended with the kidnapping of a Lebanese from his place of residence .
3. The bishops salute their Beatitudes and Eminences who met at the invitation of His Beatitude the Maronite Patriarch in a spiritual summit that issued a statement that most sincerely expresses the solidarity of the Lebanese religious families in the face of the persistence of the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, especially their request to the UN Security Council to push towards issuing a quick resolution for a ceasefire, to save the Lebanese, especially the displaced among them, who are awaiting a dignified humanitarian treatment for their conditions, after winter has engulfed the country, and the displacement points have become in a very critical condition in terms of protection from rain, snow and cold .
4. The bishops applaud the initiative of the French President to hold the Paris Conference to support the people of Lebanon and its sovereignty. They welcome with gratitude the positions of the conference participants, which affirm the necessity of saving Lebanon from its ordeal, especially their readiness to provide financial assistance, especially supporting the Lebanese army in terms of financing, armament, training and qualification, in order for it to assume its sovereign responsibilities on all Lebanese territory .
5. The bishops extend their thanks to the brotherly and friendly countries that rushed to provide Lebanon with what it needs to serve its displaced sons, in terms of accommodation, food and medical supplies, wishing them continued goodness, health and peace .
6. The bishops express their satisfaction with the humane, civilized, national and cultural face with which our children met their displaced brothers, hoping for the continuation of their good reception of them, and being alert in order to confront any problems that may occur, by forming coordination committees in cooperation with the governors, municipalities, municipal unions, civil society organizations, and military and security institutions ready to provide any assistance in this field .
7. Calls on parents responsible for the educational sector to cooperate positively, and hopes that the Ministry of National Education will establish a specialized central committee representing private and public schools, to establish a clear working mechanism in order to save the school year for all students .
8. In the midst of this absurd war imposed on Lebanon, which threatens its fate as an entity and a people, the bishops call on their sons and daughters and all the Lebanese to hold fast to their faith based on the words of the Divine Teacher: Do not be afraid, I have overcome the world... and I am with you until the end of time, and to intensify prayer and acts of righteousness, asking God, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Lebanon and all its saints, to enlighten the minds of all officials so that they may work to stop the killing and destruction and establish security and peace throughout this country, this region and the world.
Source: https://en.abouna.org/
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