A narrow cordon prevented the Patriarch Sfeir to respond directly to the enthusiasm of the welcome. failed to subversion: a triumph in Zahle Sfeir
Braving the fears arising from an explosion the previous day in a garage in the industrial city, the Patriarch Sfeir was the appointment yesterday of a pastoral visit to Zahle, whose project was close to his heart long ago. He was not disappointed. The population of the city and city leaders, foremost among whom was Mona Hrawi, gave him a triumphant reception, he used to advocate the unity of Christians and Lebanese.
At Our Lady of Tell, Patriarch Sfeir in the company of Bishop Hobeika, Maronite Bishop of Zahle, Bishop Andre Haddad, Greek Catholic Bishop of Zahle, and Culture Minister Salim Wardy .
Sfeir in Zahle: "It is through unity that we protect the present and prepare the future"
After Akkar, and despite the explosion of a bomb that s' there was produced the day before, Zahle was a triumph yesterday Patriarch Sfeir, Maronite patriarch first visit to the capital of the Bekaa since ... 1938. The visit was marked by enthusiastic folk and popular reception, and by a security cordon fairly narrow insured by army commandos, because of the incident from the Seraglio veille.Accueilli Zahle by Antoine Sleiman, Mohafez the Bekaa, as well as several senior judges and local military officers of what is considered the largest city of the Christian Middle East, the patriarch received a symbolic key to the city. There is a speech full of nuances, in which he recalled some of the constants of Bkirki.
"The Patriarchate is open to everyone," said Chief including the Maronite Church, applauded Mreijate to Zahle, to Kab Elias, Taalabaya, Karak and Maallaka by enthusiastic crowds on all kinds of flags supporters, except those of the Free Patriotic Movement, which sniffs in this pastoral visit a political operation. "This visit is long overdue," said the head of the Maronite Church, alluding to the difficult circumstances that have prevented the conduct. The head of the Maronite Church also welcomed the fact that the three bishops Maronite, Greek Catholic and Greek Orthodox of the city form a joint pastoral council, "which has prompted locals to establish responsible relations between them and highlighted the opening of Zahle and willingness of complementarity with its geographical and human environment. "Usability was one of the strengths of Zahle, an asset that has kept the worst of the war," said Patriarch Sfeir. She's giving today in the city, civil peace dividend more abundant than elsewhere. "Moreover, the patriarch called very discreet, almost elliptical, with the establishment of good relations between Lebanon and Zahle whole, on the one hand and Syria on the other hand, saying:" As individuals and communities, homelands also need cooperation and exchanges among themselves and with neighboring states and cooperating especially as they maintain good neighborly relations, so that the adage is true, which says a good neighbor is better than distant brother. "Referring to the opening in October, a special meeting of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, the Patriarch added that this meeting will impose on Catholic churches in the Middle East to" purify their memory "and" look to the future with new resolutions, like what happened with the Synod for Lebanon. "" We invite our faithful to show more sense of unity among themselves and with other sections of the population. It is through unity we protect the present and we prepare the future, we are protecting our presence and give helpful to others, "said the patriarch Sfeir.À After this ceremony, the patriarch of the convoy made a short tour the grand boulevards of Zahle, before going to Hoch el-Oumara the home of former President Elias Hrawi, where a lavish reception was reserved for him by his wife, Mona, and his son, George, vice president of council of the city. The convoy then proceeded to the headquarters of the diocese, where a solemn mass was celebrated by Patriarch in the new Cathedral of St. Maron, built largely thanks to the tireless efforts and contributions of President Hrawi, and for some sign of "autonomy" Church acquired by the city, which was attached to the early twentieth century in the diocese of ... Sarba.Un breakfast room of the palace, given by Mona Hrawi for more than 100 guests attended the mass. During the pause that followed, the Patriarch visited the mufti of Zahle and Bekaa, Sheikh Khalil al-Meiss, with whom he spoke face to head. 16 hours, to end his visit pastoral, the Patriarch visited the shrine of Our Lady the Tell, where he could receive the homage of the Greek Catholic Bishop of Zahle, Archbishop André Haddad, and return it. The return to Bkirki was done by helicopter.
Source: L'Orient Le Jour
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