A briefing on the activity process of the Day of Prayer for Lebanon was held in the press room of the Holy See. This event was personally convened by the Pope in the hope that this land that has been hit by severe political and economic crises will rekindle the light of hope. Activities at that time will include prayers in the St. Peter’s Basilica and the Grand Duke’s round table. Card Sandri pointed out: “This is the fruit of a long journey started by John Paul II and Benedict XVI.” Archbishop Gallagher said that the Pope’s visit to Lebanon is expected to start in early 2022. It takes place when the new government is formed.
(Vatican News Network)The Day of Prayer and Reflection for Lebanon on July 1 this year is the fruit of a long journey of about thirty years. Card Sandri, Minister of the Eastern Church of the Holy See, said this at a press conference in the Press Room of the Holy See on June 25. This day of prayer and reflection was appointed by the Pope to pray for the dawn of peace in this country driven by political, economic and social crises. Card Sandri pointed out that the journey started with the Conference of World Bishops in Lebanon held by Pope John Paul II in 1995, and then was promulgated by the Pope when he visited the country of Cedar in May 1997. The apostolic exhortation of “Hope of Lebanon”. Pope Benedict XVI also took steps on this path. In September 2012, he chose to sign and promulgate the “Church in the Middle East” in Lebanon. The special session of the Conference of Bishops on the Middle East ended. file.
At this moment, Pope Francis once again appealed to the world to pay attention to this land called “message” by Pope Wojtyla. During the press conference on the plane returning from Iraq to Rome, the Argentine pope revealed that he had received a request to settle in Beirut before heading to Baghdad. At that time, it was difficult to arrange the addition of this station, but Pope Francis promised to realize this wish sooner or later. Archbishop Gallagher, Secretary-General of the Department of State Council and National Relations of the Holy See, said that this may be achieved before the end of this year, but it is more likely that it will take place early next year. The archbishop explained to reporters that in addition to the several itineraries that have already been arranged in the Pope’s calendar, one needs to wait until Lebanon has decided to form a new government.
While waiting for the trip, given the critical situation in Lebanon, the pope is eager to call this day of prayer and reflection. This event follows the path of other great initiatives of the Pope, such as the vigil for Syria in St. Peter’s Square in 2013, the prayer gathering for peace in the Holy Land in the Vatican Gardens in 2014, and St. Mar’s in 2019 Big House has bilateral meetings with political and religious leaders in South Sudan. All this is out of fear that the situation in Lebanon will continue to deteriorate. Archbishop Gallagher stated that “the Holy See is worried that the collapse of Lebanon will deal a particularly severe blow to the Christian community.” This not only involves a “political deadlock,” but also a “massive emigration of youth.” This phenomenon “may break the balance” and cause the number of Christians in the Middle East to halve. Lebanon is “the last bastion of democracy in the Arab world,” so everyone should help her “maintain its unique identity. This is also to ensure the diversity, tolerance, and diversity of the Middle East.”
Card Sandri said that, specifically, this day of prayer will mean that the pope and leaders of other church groups continue to “walk side by side.” Bishop Farrell, secretary-general of the Holy See Committee for the Promotion of the Unity of Christians, pointed out that the leaders of the church groups participating in the prayer activities are from the Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church and the Reformed Church groups, and their etiquette and traditions are different.
These religious leaders will be welcomed at the St. Mart’s House, where they will live from June 30 to July 2. Together they will walk to St. Peter, recite the “Sutra of God” in the main hall, and then go down the stairs next to the central altar of the main hall, where each person will offer a candle as a sign of earnestly begging the apostles to intercede. Card Sandri stated that on the day of prayer and reflection, “we will neither see nor hear their speeches, because the doors of the St. Clemente Hall in the Pontifical Building will be closed.” The cardinal urged everyone to pray together in their parishes and church groups.
Just like the meeting of the Grand Dukes at the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari, Italy on July 7, 2018, a round table will be held this time. The Holy See’s ambassador to Lebanon, Archbishop Spiteri, will attend as the coordinator, and 10 leaders of other Christian church groups will also be present at the same table. Perhaps there will be the heir of the patriarch Gregory Peter XX. The Catholic Armenian Patriarch Kirikia was called by the Lord on May 25 this year, and his successor will be selected by the church council that opened three days ago.
In addition, there will be three meetings from morning to afternoon on July 1 this year, and one person will give an opening report for each meeting. The closing prayer at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican will be attended by ambassadors from various countries to the Holy See. Lebanese lay people in Rome, and members of men’s and women’s religious groups will also be invited to attend the ceremony. As this event is purely religious in nature, politicians will not attend.
The Pope and other guests will march in the St. Peter’s Basilica. At the forefront of the procession is a priest holding up the Gospel. Then, in the Grand Duke’s prayers, several chapters of the word of God will be read, interspersed with prayers and hymns of different ritual traditions in Lebanon. At that time, Arabic, Syriac, Armenian and Chaldean languages will echo in the St. Peter’s Basilica in turn. At the end of the ceremony, several young people will pass the lighted light and put it on the candlestick. Card Sandri emphasized, “This is the hope of peace conveyed by the younger generations. They call for help, lest the current turmoil extinguishes this flame of hope.” Pope Francis will personally draw the end of the day’s activities and deliver a closing speech. Before leaving, the Pope will present a brick with the logo of this event. This prayer day is not expected to have a joint appeal, but the Pope will “make multiple appeals and points of reflection in his speech. All these will be the fruit of the reflection on the day and can be an instruction for the future of Lebanon.”
As for the logo of the event, it will show the Virgin of Harissa guarding Lebanon. Cardinal Sandri said that the execution of this event will be entrusted to the Virgin Mary, “May the new sun rise as soon as possible.” The cardinal’s wish quoted a poem by the Lebanese poet Gibran: “Beyond the darkness of night, a new dawn is waiting for us.”
At the press conference, a reporter of the Lebanese Government News Agency based in Rome expressed his touch. He thanked the Holy Father Pope because he was “the only one who helped Lebanon without seeking self-interest.” Archbishop Gallagher explained that the supply of aid depends on international cooperation. The archbishop further pointed out, “So far, all those who have passed through the State Council of the Holy See, we have asked each other to help Lebanon. This has almost become a habit. We always ask: You can be in this difficult and tragic situation. What to do?”
Archbishop Gallagher also answered a question about the situation in Hong Kong and said that the Vatican diplomatic team is paying attention to this. The archbishop said: “Obviously, Hong Kong is the object of our attention. Lebanon is a place where we think we can contribute, and we do not see the same opportunities in Hong Kong. We can say something appropriate that has been praised by the international and many parts of the world media. Words, but my colleagues and I don’t believe this will bring any change.”
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