"Anyway, I stay with you and endure what you are enduring. If you go through good days, I'll be happy with you," with these words that Mgr Sfeir chose to end its mission, aspiring to the "eternal rest ..." Pope accepts resignation of Nasrallah Sfeir, "the patriarch who has bowed his head before God"
With great sadness, the Lebanese Christians, especially Maronites of them, learned yesterday that Pope Benedict XVI had accepted the resignation that he had made many months ago the Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir. Indeed, it is the day after a crucial meeting between the Pope and Bishop Sfeir on Friday in Rome that the Holy Father has granted the wish of the father of the Maronite Church by sending a letter in which he accepted his resignation.
Patriarch Sfeir, who has crossed the threshold of 90 years, had lucidly faces reality by making writing a word addressed to the pope, a few months ago, the desire to resign his offices patriarchal the benefit of a man less exposed to the vagaries of age. Sfeir had observed that "everything has a purpose." "I did everything in my power, but today I am 90 years old and I'm thinking about my eternal rest before anything else. I have therefore found it appropriate to present my resignation to Her Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. " With these words worthy Mgr Sfeir explained that a few weeks earlier, the reasons behind his decision, thus putting an end to speculation and the "politicization" of its application. Commenting on the decision, a top Maronite cleric expressed his sadness stressing that "the Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir had bent his head and before his God and lived the 25 years he spent as head of the Maronite Church defend his community and Lebanon face many dangers facing our country faces. "
accordance with the rules of comity the most basic, the patriarch received a letter from the Holy Father in which he expressed his intention to accept his resignation. This letter, at the same time, was published in "L'Osservatore Romano, the official organ of the Vatican.
"The year spent in 1000-6 hundredth anniversary of the death of Saint Maron reaches its conclusion: a time of grace has been given to the Maronite Church during this jubilee exceptional. It is also the Coronation of your service to the greater glory of God and the good of all its faithful (...) You could celebrate last year sixty years of priesthood: proof of loyalty and love for Jesus Christ, the Sovereign priest. In July, you will again have the opportunity to raise a thanksgiving to the Holy Trinity for the completion of fifty years as bishop.
For almost twenty-five years you have worked with both of your predecessors in the See of Antioch before being chosen by the Synod to succeed them April 19, 1986: a turning point that puts you on the threshold Your silver jubilee in this office.
You started this noble ministry of Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites in the turmoil of the war that bloodied Lebanon for too many years. With the ardent desire for peace for your country you have driven this Church and traveled the world to console your people forced to emigrate. Peace finally came back, always fragile, but still present (...) These days I blessed the statue of Saint Maron placed with St. Peter's Basilica at the end of the jubilee year and I could greet you and the President of the Lebanese Republic and numerous bishops and faithful.
You have chosen to forego the burden of Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites in this very special occasion. Now, I welcome your decision which is free and magnanimous expression of great humility and deep detachment. I am sure you will always accompany the path of the Church Maronite by prayer, wise counsel and sacrifices.
I ask God Almighty through the intercession of Saint Maron and Our Lady of Lebanon, to fill you with his blessings. With all my heart, I send you my Apostolic Blessing, as well as bishops, priests, consecrated persons and all followers of the Maronite Church, and the beloved Lebanese Nation! "
( Extracts from the letter of Pope Benedict XVI to Patriarch Sfeir, taken from L'Osservatore Romano, "the newspaper published by the official information service of the Vatican, and signed February 26, 2011.)
Patriarch in a nutshell ...
Rayfoun Born in Lebanon May 15, 1920. He follows his seminary training Ghazir Maronite in Lebanon and the Saint Joseph University in Beirut. He was ordained a Maronite May 7, 1950 by Cardinal Pierre-Paul Meouchi. He exercises his ministry in the parish Rayfoun and with the Maronite Patriarch as secretary. Appointed auxiliary bishop of Antioch Maronite June 19, 1961, he was consecrated on 16 July. He was elected Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for the Maronite Church April 19, 1986 following the resignation Cardinal Anthony Khoraiche and is actually spent April 27, 1986. He was appointed cardinal of the Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II in the consistory of November 26, 1994.
Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites and the East, it is also an important political figure in Lebanon.
At the Lebanese presidential crisis of 2007-2008, he attempted to reconcile the opposing parties, on one occasion he met with President Bush to resolve the conflict. So after the appointment of Michel Sleiman, he traveled to Australia where he was received with the honors of Head of State. He participated in 2008 in days World Youth in Australia and was hosted at a stadium in Parramatta before 20,000 people. It is the third
Maronite Cardinal and the 76th patriarch of the Maronite Church.
For the Roman Curia, he is a member of the Congregation for Eastern Churches.
Source: L'Orient Le Jour
hilda.barhoum @ wanadoo.fr
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