Syriac Maronite Patriarch al-Rai: Christian communities bring moderation to Middle Eastern societies

BETH KERKE, Lebanon — Amid growing concerns over the potential disappearance of the Middle East’s indigenous populations, Syriac Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rai urged action to prevent Christians from leaving the region, since they play a vital role in fostering moderation among Muslim-majority nations.  

His remarks came during an interview with the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need, conducted at the patriarchal seat in Beth Kerke (Bkerke).   

The Patriarch expressed distress over the mass exodus from Syria due to war, warning that this decline in Christian presence weakens their contribution to promoting a moderate form of Islam in the region.   

“If the Middle East were emptied of Christians, Muslims would lose a key stabilizing influence,” he stressed.  

Al-Rai emphasized that governments should shift their focus, not merely counting the number of Christians but recognizing the value they bring to society.  

He compared the status of Christians in Islamic countries like Iraq, Syria, and Jordan, where they are often treated as second-class citizens, to Lebanon, where religion and state are separate, yet both Christian and Islamic beliefs are respected without legal contradiction.   

The Lebanese constitution, he noted, safeguards Christian presence, and he hopes similar protections will be extended to Syria and Iraq.  

The Patriarch reaffirmed the mission of Middle Eastern Christians: to bear witness to their faith alongside Muslims and preserve Christianity’s roots in the Holy Land.