Syriac Maronite Patriarch Calls for Humanitarian Corridors to Restore Peace and Sovereignty in Lebanon

Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Raï of the Syriac Maronite Church has called for the restoration of peace, sovereignty, and free political decision-making in Lebanon amid the ongoing conflict in the south. As Easter approaches, he emphasized the deep suffering of the nation, which he described as carrying its cross in a reality marked by assaults on its land and the dignity of its people. The war, he said, is imposed from within and outside, driven by Hezbollah’s alignment with the Iranian regime and its regional agendas.

In his Good Friday homily, Patriarch Raï addressed the displaced and those remaining in their villages, stating that the cross serves as a mirror of their current reality—pain, injustice, silence, but also hope. He urged the international community to open humanitarian corridors to deliver food, medicine, and essential needs, citing international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, Additional Protocol I, and UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

In his Easter statement, titled “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb?” Patriarch Raï reflected on the symbolic weight of the stone representing fear, pain, helplessness, war, and displacement. He emphasized that the stone was rolled away not by human power, but by God’s grace, highlighting the Resurrection as a testament to life’s triumph over death. This message, he said, is a call to recognize that what appears closed can be opened by divine intervention.

The Patriarch expressed deep sorrow for the victims of the war, the displaced, and the destroyed homes, stressing that the call for humanitarian corridors is not merely a humanitarian demand but an international legal obligation. He underscored the importance of upholding international laws that protect civilians and ensure the delivery of essential aid.

The Syriac Maronite Church continues to advocate for Lebanon’s sovereignty and peace, emphasizing the need for free political decision-making. Patriarch Raï’s statements reflect the Church’s commitment to justice, mercy, and the restoration of dignity for all Lebanese people. His words resonate with the biblical call to seek peace and justice, as seen in Micah 6:8, which urges people to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

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