BEIRUT (CNS) – Church bells rang, horns blasted and firecrackers echoed throughout Lebanon as it was announced that Bishop Bechara Rai of Jbeil, Lebanon had been elected the new Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church.
Patriarch Rai, 71, known for his courage to speak the truth, is seen as someone who can unite Maronite Catholics who have been divided among political party lines.
The Patriarch’s election was announced on 15 March. Elections began on 11 March after the Maronite Synod spent two days in spiritual retreat and reflection. He replaces Cardinal Nasrallah P Sfeir, 90, who retired because of age.
Fr Joseph Mouawad, vicar general of Jbeil, predicted Patriarch Rai would unite Maronite Catholics and begin a pastoral renewal of the Church. “I think his first mission will be to confirm us in our faith here in Lebanon and, as head of the Church, he will try to unite Christians, the different parties, and to consolidate the communion among the Maronites,” Fr Mouawad said. “He has a deep spirituality, and he is very sociable and open to the others, and has great courage. He says the truth even if someone doesn’t want to listen to it.
“I think on a national level in Lebanon, he will work to conserve this country to be a country of conviviality of all religions – between Christian and Muslims.” Of Lebanon’s population of nearly 4 million, approximately 33 percent are Christian. Of the approximately 5.5 million Maronite Catholics worldwide, approximately one million live in Lebanon.
Syrian Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III Younan called the new Patriarch “a good friend, an outstanding leader and well-gifted Bishop. His intense spirituality, solid formation and openness of heart will be, God willing, a tremendous asset to reunite all Catholic Maronites in Lebanon, in the Middle Eastern countries and in the Church.”
Maronite Fr Joseph Mouannes, secretary of the communications commission for Catholic Bishops of the Middle East, called the election “really the choice of the Holy Spirit. And a great choice.”
“He has done a lot for dialogue between Muslims and Christians. He was always the voice of truth, the voice of dignity, of freedom and respect,” Fr Mouannes said.
The new Patriarch has served as president of the Lebanese Bishops’ communications committee and hosted a weekly programme on Telelumiere, Lebanon’s Christian television station. The programme, Boushra al Rahi, which means “Good News of the Shepherd,” provided commentary and teaching on that Sunday’s Gospel, and the Patriarch encouraged listeners to live the Scriptures in a practical way.
Maronite Fr Camille Mubarak, dean of the faculty of political science at Beirut’s Sagesse University, said Patriarch Rai “can resolve many problems, politically and socially.” He predicted the Patriarch would “try to make peace between Christians first (the political parties), and then he will try to make peace among all the people of Lebanon.”