杏MAP导航

By Robin Gomes

The Lebanese people have welcomed the gesture of solidarity and nearness of 杏MAP导航 Francis with 鈥済reat joy and the sense of gratitude鈥�, Archbishop Joseph Spiteri said on Friday. Speaking to Sister Bernadette Reis on the phone, he said, 鈥渘obody doubted that 杏MAP导航 Francis is always close to Lebanon, like all his predecessors鈥�.

杏MAP导航鈥檚 scholarships for young students 

The Holy See Press Office on Thursday announced that the Holy Father has donated USD 200,000 to support 400 scholarships for young people in Lebanon, a nation in severe crisis.

The Press Office explained that the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 gesture of solidarity, channelled through the Apostolic Nunciature, intended to involve all in the country in the search for the common good, overcoming every division and partisan interest.

Lebanon鈥檚 crisis, it said, is causing suffering and poverty, which risks robbing the hope especially of younger generations who are going through a difficult present and are staring at an uncertain future.   

Lebanon's high standard of education

Archbishop Spiteri explained that the education of young people in Lebanon is fundamental and the country has always had a 鈥渇antastic educational system that inspired the whole Middle Eastern region鈥�.

Unfortunately, Archbishop Spiteri noted, because of the political and social crises the educational establishment has been suffering a lot. Hence it is of utmost importance to maintain the 鈥渉igh standards of Lebanese education鈥� because it is fundamental for the future of this country and the young people鈥�.

The Apostolic Nuncio said that statistics and his personal experience with young people show that most of them want to study and advance in life, hence 鈥渨e have to help them realize their dreams鈥�.  

Lebanese coexistence and fraternity

One of the world鈥檚 most religiously diverse countries, Lebanon鈥檚 some 6.8 million population is estimated to be 60 percent Muslim, 34 percent Christian and Druze, Judaism and others making up the rest.  

In announcing the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 donation, the Holy See Press Office said that in his fatherly concern, the 杏MAP导航 has been following the situation in Lebanon, which 鈥渉as always been an example of the coexistence and fraternity that the Document on Human Fraternity wished to offer to the whole world鈥�.

Archbishop Spiteri said that education has a lot to do with people of various religious backgrounds to live together in Lebanon.  

As a very good example to this living together, he spoke about the May 14 event in the country. It was in response to the invitation of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity that called on believers of all religions across the world to unite spiritually on May 14 for a day of prayer, fasting, and works of charity, to implore God to help humanity overcome the coronavirus pandemic.

Made up of Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious leaders, the Higher Committee is committed to reconciliation and peace in the world.  

Archbishop Spiteri said that, at the event, many 鈥渕ovements, both Muslim and Christian, got together to organize prayers, fasting and, certainly, also acts of solidarity and charity鈥�.  

However, most of it was done online because of the Covid-19 restrictions.   

The Maltese archbishop expressed admiration for the sense of solidarity, creativity and resilience of the people of Lebanon.

Solidarity and lockdown 

After easing some restrictions, the government on Wednesday re-imposed a four-day nationwide lockdown on Wednesday, following a spike in reported coronavirus cases.

Speaking about the Covid-19 situation, Archbishop Spiteri said 鈥渋t鈥檚 not too bad鈥� from the 鈥渕edical point of view鈥� but 鈥渧ery bad from the economic point of view鈥�. Factories, restaurants and the crucial tourism sector have been particularly hit by the lockdown. With the loss of jobs, many families have lost the possibility of earning a living.

In this situation, the Vatican diplomat said, 鈥渢he only thing that can help them is solidarity鈥�.

Caritas, parishes, nuns and priests as well as many Muslim and Christian welfare societies have been working hard to help all people in need.

World Bank statistics show that 鈥�50 per cent of the population has gone down and slipped down under the poverty line鈥�.  This, the archbishop said, is 鈥渞eally terrible鈥�.

Sowing seeds of hope

Easing the lockdown and re-launching the economy, will take time in these difficult times, the Apostolic Nuncio pointed out.

鈥淎s a Church,鈥� he said, they want to 鈥渒eep sowing the seeds of hope鈥� for 鈥測oung people and families not to give up鈥�.  

鈥淭here is hope as long as there is this natural creativity and resilience of the Lebanese people,鈥� he said, adding, 鈥渉ope never dies鈥�.

Archbishop Spiteri said the government that is trying to bring in reforms for better governance, transparency and more rigour in administration but that is not enough. They also need the help of the international community.

鈥淲e will continue to sow hope, and I鈥檓 sure the Lord will listen to our prayers,鈥� he added.