Lebanese archbishop calls for reconciliation amid violent clashes

Published: 2008-05-09

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNS) -- After several days of violence, a Lebanese archbishop called on sectarian groups to reconcile peacefully and urged the Vatican to help. "The Lebanese do not at all want war. We are insisting that the Christian political leaders be wise and avoid participation in this armed conflict," Maronite Catholic Archbishop Bechara Rai of Jbeil told Catholic News Service May 9. "We are calling on them to do everything to reconcile peacefully the two groups. We should do whatever necessary to interrupt this armed conflict. The church, the (Maronite) Patriarchate should take initiatives," said Archbishop Rai. "The Vatican should intervene in the spirit of the 1997 apostolic exhortation, 'New Hope for Lebanon.' This pontifical document gives directions on the political level and was agreed upon equally by Muslims and Christians," said the archbishop. "A democratic Lebanon, the success of the Christian and Muslim conviviality and pluralism are the door to peace in the Arab countries and the Middle East."

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .