Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon addresses Gaza conflict and threat to Christian presence

BEIRUT — The 56th session of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon commenced on Monday, with deliberations set to continue throughout the week. During this assembly, participants engaged in discussions that encompassed the Christian community’s presence in Lebanon and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The session’s agenda featured in-depth dialogues about the status and identity of the Council, its organizational structure, and the activities of its episcopal committees, all within the context of the Church’s synodal process.

Syriac Maronite Patriarch and Roman Catholic Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rai delivered an address during the meeting, emphasizing the urgent necessity of safeguarding Lebanon against the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territories. His remarks included a clear allusion to the negative role of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah within Lebanon.

Patriarch al-Rai underscored the importance of implementing UN Security Council Resolution No. 1701, which stipulates the immediate cessation of all hostilities and military actions by both Israel and the Hezbollah.

In a previous speech, Patriarch al-Rai emphasized that the path to peace in the Holy Lands lies in conducting negotiations and fostering constructive dialogue between the two states, offering a perspective grounded in diplomacy and peaceful resolution.