Farewell to Cardinal Nasrallah Peter Sfeir

We have just lost a father; a leader and a national symbol of unwavering courage and honesty in the face of the darkest and most trying of difficulties that could face a people.He faced with his legendary wisdom, love and patience, the world’s neglect of Lebanon and the division among its citizens, blinded by their thirst for power and dominance.He knew how to awaken patriotism in the souls of his countrymen and to lead them to the peaceful liberation of Lebanon, without shedding a drop of blood.He never strayed from his humble and selfless demeanor and was thus able to achieve what was considered by most to be unattainable.

Among his triumphs, too many to list in full, was the creation of the Maronites in the World Foundation, an organization born out of his will and determination that was able to unite those that could not be easily brought together.

Our loss is great - unrecoverable. Our only solace is that he was the seventy sixth pearl in the rosary of our great patriarchs, and that he is in the presence of the Almighty, pleading for his people and for the church he ably served. He had faithfully chosen the path of our forefathers, also followed by his successor, his beatitude Mar Bechara Rai, to whom the great mission was entrusted, and to whom the glory of Lebanon was given.