杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

杏MAP导航 Francis will meet with the Christian community of Lebanon on 1 July for a special day of prayer and reflection in the Vatican.

The 杏MAP导航 says the encounter with Lebanon鈥檚 Christian leaders is meant to seek solutions for 鈥渢he worrying situation in the country and to pray together for the gift of peace and stability.鈥�

In the lead-up to next Thursday鈥檚 event, US Bishops have expressed their support for the people of Lebanon and the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 appeal.

Moment of grace, mercy, direction

Bishop David Malloy of Rockford, Chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops鈥� (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace, released a statement on Monday to that effect.

The Bishop said Lebanon has 鈥渓ong been an example to the region and the world鈥� and that the Lebanese people are facing a 鈥渄ifficult time鈥�.

He called on everyone to 鈥減ray that the meeting of Lebanon鈥檚 Christian leaders with 杏MAP导航 Francis on 1 July will be met with divine grace, mercy, and direction鈥�.

Bishop Malloy also asked US Catholics to support the work of Catholic aid agencies in Lebanon who are 鈥渃ourageously providing relief and hope鈥�, including Catholic Near East Welfare Association, Caritas Lebanon, Catholic Relief Services, and Aid to the Church in Need.鈥�

Protecting rights and social fabric

The upcoming Vatican encounter comes on the heels of an appeal issued in April by the Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Lebanon.

The Church leaders called on the international community to help rebuild a country that is 鈥渁 message of freedom and a witness to harmonious existence.鈥�

They asked for assistance to 鈥渕aintain their individual, collective, and national rights; overcome the economic crisis, protect Lebanese society鈥檚 social fabric, preserve Lebanon鈥檚 interreligious character, and support the Christian presence through Church institutions.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 called the 1 July day of prayer in response to the ongoing crisis.

International assistance needed

US Bishops recognized 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� care and concern, and recalled his Christmas 2020 letter to the people of Lebanon.

In that letter, the 杏MAP导航 said Lebanese can 鈥渂ring to the whole world the sweet fragrance of mutual respect, coexistence, and pluralism.鈥�

He also called on the international community to assist the nation in overcoming its political and economic crises and 鈥渟tand apart from conflicts and regional tensions.鈥�

Long-running crisis

Lebanon鈥檚 crisis is both economic and political, with politicians gridlocked over the formation of a new government.

On the economic front, the Lebanese pound has seen sharp devaluation鈥攐wing to a financial meltdown and aggravated by pandemic lockdowns鈥攍osing almost 90 percent of its value on the informal market over the past 18 months. The crisis has sparked several waves of protests.