Syriac Maronite Patriarch al-Rai calls for sovereign and independent Lebanon after meeting with US Ambassador Barrack in Beth Kerke

BETH KERKE, Lebanon — On Wednesday, Syriac Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Raï received US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack — also tasked by the Trump Administration with handling the Lebanon dossier — and US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson at the patriarchal residence in Beth Kerke (Bkerke). On Tuesday and Monday, he met with President Joseph Aoun, a Syriac Maronite, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and long-serving Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri.

Patriarch al-Raï expressed his gratitude for Barrack’s efforts in support of Lebanon, expressing hope that these efforts would lead to the preservation of a unified, sovereign, free, and independent Lebanon. He called on all political factions to take responsibility for the good of the people. As a token of appreciation, the Patriarch presented Barrack with a medallion bearing the patriarchal emblem, which features a statue of Our Lady of Qannoubine.

Barrack, whose family hails from Zahle, is currently visiting Lebanon and engaging with its officials while awaiting a final response to earlier US proposals related to military, financial, and economic aid. So far, Lebanon has not met Washington’s conditions. Key US demands include the disarmament of Hezbollah and all other armed groups operating within Lebanon — whether Lebanese or foreign — comprehensive financial and economic reforms, and normalization of relations with Syria. The US also views Lebanon as a potential candidate to join the Abraham Accords with its southern neighbor, Israel.

The American proposal has triggered closed-door consultations and intense political deliberations. Analysts describe this as Washington’s most determined push in over a decade to reshape Lebanon’s internal security framework and reaffirm the Lebanese Armed Forces as the sole legitimate military authority in the country.

After his private meeting with Patriarch al-Raï, Barrack remarked, “I was pleased to meet His Beatitude and appreciate the Church’s influential role in everything we do. My visit today brings comfort and hope. We must focus on solutions. The time has come for everyone to compromise and work together.” He added, “As I’ve said before, the problem is complex. I came today to listen to the patriarch’s advice on what Lebanese officials truly want to achieve.”

Barrack acknowledged the complicated nature of Lebanon’s situation but stressed that all parties are doing their best to overcome the crisis. He expressed optimism that continued dialogue would help rectify the situation, and he confirmed that President Trump is closely following the matter and is invested in its success. However, the special envoy refrained from offering a timetable for resolving Lebanon’s challenges, citing the number of actors involved and the complexities at play.

“Everyone wants to help Lebanon,” Barrack continued, “but no one can dictate what the Lebanese government must do. The decision lies with the Lebanese themselves. If they fail to achieve stability, no outside party will be able to assist. There are ongoing issues preventing the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement with Israel, and perspectives on that remain divided.”

On the role of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Barrack said, “Speaker Berri is making efforts to resolve the crisis, but it’s a process. Ultimately, the government must decide what direction it wants to take. Stability is essential, and the exclusivity of arms is enshrined in Lebanese law — it must be enforced. What’s needed now is a decisive governmental move to regulate weapons and halt attacks.”

He concluded by emphasizing that international aid from the United States, Gulf countries, and neighboring nations is contingent upon Lebanon achieving internal stability. “The ball is now in the government’s court,” he said.