Patriarch Al Rahi has urged all Lebanese MPs to assume their crucial responsibility and elect a new president.

(Translation of this article appears in Arabic section)

His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Rai has renewed his call to elect a new president for Lebanon, stressing that there is no justification for the current power vacuum and refusing any sort of arrangements or plans to keep the country without its Christian president.

In a meeting with the bishops and representatives of the Eastern churches in Australia held at Beit Maroun today, His Beatitude has urged all Lebanese MPs to assume their crucial responsibility and elect a new president.

His Beatitude has called on all Christians around the world and in Lebanon not to be deterred by the current situation and to remember that they are not minorities but the indigenous people of the Middle East. He stressed that the region is in dire need for the language of the gospel, the language of love and respect of life, unlike the current language that is being used, the language of killing and destruction.

His Beatitude has urged the international community to work on stopping wars that aim at selling weapons and called on various countries to prevent members of fanatic organisations from using their territories to cross to war zones in the region.

His Beatitude met also spiritual leaders of the Muslim communities in Australia. Among those participating in the meeting were the Grand Mufti of Australia Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammad, the representative of the Lebanese Dar Al Fatwa Sheikh Malek Zaydan, the Head of the Mabarrat Association Sheikh Youssef Nabha, the representatives of the Druze community Najif Abdel Baqi and Melhem Assef, as well as Sheikh Shafik Abdul Rahman and Sheikh Khale Saj.

After the meetings, the following joint Christian-Muslim statement was issued:

On the occasion of the visit to Australia by His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Rai, the Maronite Bishop of Australia His Eminence Antoine Charbel Tarabay invited the bishops and representatives of the Eastern churches and the Heads of the Muslim denominations in Australia to a meeting with His Beatitude at Beit Maroun on Saturday the 25th of October 2014. The spiritual leaders exchanged ideas and the meeting was concluded by a joint Christian-Islamic prayer and lunch.

The prayer and lunch were also attended by the Father Superiors of the Lebanese Maronite Order, the Mother Superior of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family, priests, monks and nuns, along with delegates from local, international and Lebanese media.

After the meeting, the spiritual leaders issued the following statement:

1-         The attendees congratulated His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Rai on His safe arrival in Australia with the accompanying delegation and wished His Beatitude and the delegation a fruitful visit and a happy stay. The attendees thanked His Eminence Bishop Antoine Charbel Tarabay and His assistants for their exceptional effort in organising this brotherly, fruitful and historic meeting at this blessed location, Beit Maroun.

2-         The attendees prayed together for peace in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Palestine, and in all countries in the Middle East and the world.

3-         The attendees renewed their commitment to the Christian-Islamic coexistence and to the unity of the partnership and love between all their children.

4-         The attendees declared their adherence to dialogue and prayer as the basis for dealing with differences and preserving the freedom of faith and worship. They stressed that there were no cause at the expense of the dignity and rights bestowed by God upon human since peace would be the sublime aim of every believer in God. They strongly rejected any bullying or violence.

5-         The attendees condemned the terrorist act of forcing Christians, Muslims and minorities to leave their homes especially in Syria, Iraq and Palestine. They denounced those involved in such actions and considered them as people who did not respect religion but acted out of rebellion against nations and human rights. They declared that the East can only survive through its distinctive diversity especially through its Muslims and Christians together.

6-         The attendees expressed their solidarity with their children who had been forced to leave their homes and lands, facing great difficulties particularly at the onset of winter. While thanking the Australian government and other countries for their assistance, they called on the international community and Australia to increase their support to the displaced and to attend to their needs. They commended the assistance collected from many Christians and Muslims in Australia and thanked those involved for their generosity.

7-         The attendees confirmed that Eastern Christians and Muslims in Australia, who have been united under a joint culture, are equal citizens in terms of rights and obligations, as well as essential contributors to the fabric of the Australian society, and are able to build together and adhere to the civilisation of humanity with all its values and ethics. They hoped that their fellow citizens in the Middle Eastern countries would preserve their culture and history which they built together.

Finally, the bishops and representatives of the Eastern churches, along with the Heads of the Muslim denominations thanked His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Rai and His Eminence Bishop Antoine Charbel Tarabay for hosting them at Beit Maroun. They also entrusted His Beatitude with the brilliant experience of partnership and love between Muslims and Christians in Australia.