The Vatican Secretary of State visited the Lebanese capital to participate in the fasting and prayer day that the pontiff set on behalf of Pope Francis.Card Parolin also met with leaders of Christian churches and Muslim families. AsiaNews continues its “Help to Devastated Beirut” Campaign.
Beirut (AsiaNews) – The Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, is located in Lebanon on behalf of Pope Francis to participate in today’s Day of Fasting and Prayer, which the pontiff set a month after the crisis that devastated Beirut.
Yesterday, in a service he presided over, because of the coronavirus epidemic, in the gardens of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, Cardinal Parolin presented hope to discouraged young Christians, many of whom think about emigration.
“You are not in your struggles; the global total now stand in solidarity with you,” the preled told the young people who listened to it.”Wait a minute and Lebanon will become an orchard and orchard in the forest,” he added, drawing the book of Isaiah.
Trying to inspire the other Lebanese people, tired of a succession of political, economic, monetary and fitness crises, crowned by the explosion of the port, the cardinal tried to inspire the other Lebanese people to regain strength and maintain hope, recalling history.of miraculous fishing in which, hearing the words of Jesus, St. Peter, after unsuccessfully launching his net, brought him back full of fish.
Quoting the Pope’s announcement of the Day of Prayer and Fasting, Cardinal Parolin said, “Encourage!May religion and prayer be your strength.Don’t leave your homes and your estate. Do not abandon the dreams of those who believed in a rich and charming country.
Allergic to resilience
The prelated continued to tell the other young people that the total world admired the exemplary show of solidarity they showed after the disaster and spoke of the “proverbial resistance of the Lebanese,” which some other young people associate after the disaster..” impunity” and “not hold them accountable,” to those who are now allergic.
“It is true that the Lebanese are overwhelmed, frustrated, under heavy burdens, but they are not alone,” Cardinal Parolin said, “they are accompanied spiritually, morally and economically.”In addition, the Pope has spoken almost daily over the past month about Lebanon’s wishes and has asked the foreign network to help the country.”It is true that it depends a lot on itself, but you will need to know that you can count on your friends, ” said the Secretary of State.
In some political circles, it has been pointed out that the scale of the prelated follows that of French President Emmanuel Macron, and they see it as a form of coordination beyond mere coincidence.
“Lebanon is not alone. We are through you in silence and solidarity to express our love for you,” Cardinal Parolin said on arrival, in a first assembly with devout Christian and Muslim dignitaries, as well as representatives of certain humanitarian teams (Lebanese Red Cruz, Caritas, Adyan Foundation) at St. George’s Maronite Cathedral, in the presence of Archbishop Boulos Abdelsater of Beirut, Joseph Spiteri Apostolic Nuncio Settlement and Father , as Master of Ceremonies.
Held in a complete church of scaffolding, the assembly continued in the wonderful corridor of the cathedral, whose windows in the front were broken.All Lebanese churches were represented in the assembly, as were Muslim families, along with Mohammad el-Kardaoui (Dar el-Fatwa), Sheikh Hassan Abdallah (Shia Higher Council) and Sami Aboul Mouna (Drusa House).
“Pluralism of consensus”
Particularly sensitive, like the Vatican as a whole, to the delight of Lebanon’s “consensual pluralism,” Cardinal Parolin listened carefully to the explanations provided through the Grand Mosque’s main administrator, Mohammad el-Amine, whose stained glass windows and chandeliers broke or destroyed the port explosion.
“Lebanon desires the global, but the global desires Lebanon’s exclusive delight in solidarity and freedom.Together we will rebuild Beirut,” Parolin said on arrival.
In a show of solidarity, the pontiff’s right hand also visited the Greek-Orthodox and Greek-Catholic cathedrals in Nejmeh Square (Shh al-Nedjmeh, Star Square), such as the Mohammad el-Amine mosque, also full of scaffolding.to the ceiling.
At his guest’s reception, metropolitan Elias Audi informed him of some’s attempts to bring the merit of the harbour crisis to some houses in Gemmayzeh.Greek-Catholic Archbishop Georges Bacouni of Beirut received Cardinal Parolin in his cathedral.
Today at 10 a.m., the Secretary of State made a visit to baabda’s presidential palace, before heading to the devastated port compound and spending a moment of contemplation in front of the statue of the emigrant.Achrafieh and an assembly with survivors of the August 4 explosion.After a few refreshments at the patriarchal headquarters of Bkerké, Cardinal Parolin will take you to the devastated neighborhoods before going directly to the airport.
To help others in Beirut and Lebanon, as well as Caritas Lebanon, AsiaNews is launching a crusade to “help the devastated Beirut.”Those who wish to make a contribution can make a donation to:
PIME Foundation:
– International Bank Account Number (IBAN): IT78C030690960610000169898
– Bank identification code (BIC): BCITITMM
– Reason for transfer: AN04 – HELP DEVASTATED BEIRUT
The Vatican Secretary of State visited the Lebanese capital to participate in the fasting and prayer day that the pontiff set on behalf of Pope Francis.Card Parolin also met with leaders of Christian churches and Muslim families. AsiaNews continues its “Help to Devastated Beirut” Campaign.