Communique

            On Wednesday 5 November 2008, Their Excellencies the Maronite bishops held their monthly meeting, which was presided over by His Beatitude and Eminence, Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Cardinal Sfeir. At the end of the meeting they issued the following communiqué:

1 – Their Excellencies congratulated Bishop Yousser Soueif for his election by the Maronite Bishop Synod at the Cyprus Maronite eparchy, to succeed to His Excellency Bishop Butros Gemayel, and the approval of his election by His Holiness the Sovereign Pontiff Benedict XVI.

2 – His Beatitude informed their Excellencies the bishops about the meeting which was held by the Roman Bishops Synod and was presided over by the Sovereign Pontiff. The theme of the meeting was: “The word of God in the Church life and mission”. The meeting took place from 5 till 26 of last October.

3 – Two years have gone by since the closure of the Patriarchal Synod. It started its third year of implementation with a Mass celebrated by the Bishops and Superiors General, with the participation of a number of priests, monks , nuns and faithful at the church of Our Lady of Bkerkeh, last Sunday November 2. We hope that the faithful will be responsive to the decrees of this synod, study them, think them over and do accordingly. 

4 – The Fathers follow up with interest the question of conciliation between all parties in divergence. They wish for more efforts to reach the looked for aim. They also wish that the dialogue that has been resumed succeeds. The general  situation requires that a détente takes place so as Lebanon resumes its march calmly and successfully and strengthens the confidence of its citizens and friends.

5 – The synod of Bishops was please with the content of His Excellency the President of the Republic’s speech at the UN General Assembly and at the Summit Francophony in Canada. It proposed Lebanon as a center for dialogue between religions, civilizations and races. If this project succeeds, it will give Lebanon its true identity and consecrate its role and mission in its environment and in the world, as a country where various religions and creeds meet, interact and dialogue.

6 – Some high rank civil servants, who has been stopped from performing their work while still they cash their salaries, came to us asking to be returned to their posts because justice has innocented them from accusations. It is a just claim .

7 – This month, the faithful remember their dead. They pray for the repose of their souls so as God raises them to the abodes of light and tranquility. Thus they would intercede for us and for our county when they reach happiness, so as God grants us peace.