MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –
Source: The Holy See in Italian
Beirut (Agenzia Fides) – «The assassination of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has opened a wound in the hearts of the Lebanese». But «The incessant martyrdom of Christian and Muslim leaders who believed in the causes of truth, justice and the defense of the weak strengthens unity among the Lebanese, a unity of blood, belonging and destiny». With these words the Maronite Patriarch Béchara Boutros Raï expressed his first public considerations on the end of the Head of the Shiite Hezbollah movement, killed on Friday evening by penetrating bombs launched on Beirut by the Israeli army. He did so during the homily delivered during the Sunday mass celebrated today, September 29, in the summer patriarchal residence of Dimane. A mass – said the Lebanese Cardinal – celebrated to ask for the repose of the souls of the victims of these days, and to ask for peace. That for the common homeland – continued the Maronite Patriarch – «is the martyrdom chosen by believers of all the Lebanese components who have united in it, leaving us an invitation to fidelity and loyalty towards their sacrifice for a homeland they loved, even if their vision of how to manage it and how to practice politics differed». The blood shed by those who sacrificed themselves for the Lebanese homeland – continued Cardinal Raï, referring to the political-institutional crisis that has paralyzed the country for years «cries out to us to defend Lebanon against any aggression and to elect a President of the Republic who will restore Lebanon to its place among the nations». The role of Head of State, which in the Lebanese institutional system belongs to a Maronite Christian, has been vacant for almost two years due to the crossed vetoes of Parties and factions. In his omeiia, the Lebanese Cardinal – also critical in the recent past of the strategies of Hezbollah militias that opened the flank to Israeli reprisals – reiterated that “the international community is called to act seriously to stop the cycle of war, death and destruction here with us, preparing the ground for a just peace that guarantees the rights of all peoples and components of the region. The time has come – added the Maronite Patriarch that all Lebanese understand that they have no one to help and support them except themselves, united and in solidarity with each other, committed to managing the affairs of the Lebanese house with the spirit of the National Pact, in a state of law and institutions”. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 29/9/2024) Share:
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.