Syriac-Maronite Bishops Conclude Synod with Calls for Peace, Reform, and Cultural Fidelity

BKERKÉ, Lebanon — The Syriac-Maronite Catholic Synod of Bishops concluded its annual assembly this week at the patriarchal seat in Bkerké, following ten days of deliberation led by Syriac-Maronite Cardinal Mar Béchara Boutros Raï, Syriac-Maronite Patriarch of Antioch.   

Prelates and exarchs from across Lebanon, the patriarchal territory, and the Syriac-Maronite diaspora convened amid a landscape of regional uncertainty and deepening local challenges. In a closing statement released Friday, the synod fathers welcomed the election of Pope Leo XIV, expressing gratitude for a “new spiritual chapter” in Vatican leadership.   

Among the issues addressed, the bishops focused on the ongoing need for accurate and culturally sensitive translations of liturgical and pastoral texts used by Syriac-Maronites abroad. They emphasized that such translations must remain grounded in original Syriac sources while also responding thoughtfully to the linguistic and pastoral realities of contemporary communities.   

The synod also turned its attention to the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. Bishops voiced alarm over the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, calling for an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomacy and dialogue. They further denounced the prolonged violence in Gaza and the West Bank—now in its twentieth month—urging the international community and all people of conscience to push for negotiations toward a lasting ceasefire and the realization of a two-state solution.   

Within Syria, the bishops called on the national government to build a democratic state grounded in the rule of law, justice, equality, and full recognition of the country’s diverse ethnic and religious communities. 

Lebanon, too, featured prominently in the proceedings. The bishops expressed deep concern over what they described as a “grave existential threat” to the nation’s identity and cohesion, citing Lebanon’s protracted political paralysis. Still, they acknowledged recent signs of hope, including the election of Syriac-Maronite President Joseph Aoun, the appointment of a prime minister, and the formation of a new government—developments they said must be seized upon with courage. 

The bishops underscored the urgency of structural reforms to lift the country from economic collapse and restore state sovereignty. International support, they said, represents a historic opportunity that should not be squandered. They called on Lebanese leadership—President Aoun chief among them—to take decisive action that reflects the expectations of a weary but still hopeful citizenry. 

The final communiqué echoed a spiritual theme throughout the synod’s proceedings: fidelity to heritage, dialogue over confrontation, and a renewed commitment to shepherding a fractured flock through uncertain times.