Al-Rahi: Reports about My Resignation Are Lies and We Apologized to the Vatican

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi strongly denied on Tuesday rumors saying he was resigning as the head of the church in Lebanon, slamming media reports as “lies.”

"Reports about my resignation are only lies,” al-Rahi stated upon his arrival at Rafik Hariri International Airport after returning to Beirut from the Vatican.

“It is not appropriate that media in Lebanon becomes a platform for lies.”

Al-Rahi said he apologized to Pope Francis about these "fabrications,” noting also that talks with the head of the Vatican did not tackle his pontiff's visit to Lebanon.

“It is because we were ashamed of reports about replacing cardinals,” he explained.

Al-Rahi's denial comes after El-Sharq newspaper said he would resign to get the post of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri at the Vatican.

“It was decided at the Vatican for the prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches to be from the Orient so the choice fell on the head of the most important and effective church in the Orient,” said El-Sharq.

The Patriarch reiterated that he holds on to “partnership and love” as a slogan.

On the recent sectarian-motivated security developments in the country, al-Rahi remarked that Muslims and Christians have been living and building a society together based on both religions' values for 1400 years.

“The presence of Christians and of Muslims are equally valuable to the East,” he said.

“Do suicide and killing people have anything to do with religion or human values?,” he asked.

The Patriarch expressed his willingness to communicate with all factions in the country.

He elaborated: “I accept any invitation I get and I do not close the door in front of dialogue with anyone. Our culture promotes openness and communication. We do not have personal relations with anyone and this is why we communicate with everyone.”

“If Lebanon loses communication, we lose the country's values.”

“This is why we call for neutralizing the country and we support President Michel Suleiman in this matter.”

He lamented that Lebanon became a “victim” to conflicts, hoping that the talks between international powers in Geneva would include countries of the region to solve pending problems, starting with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Al-Rahi was in Rome along with other Catholic patriarchs for a summit meeting for the leaders of the Eastern churches in communion with Pope Francis.

Comments 9
Default-user-icon hanoun (Guest) 26 November 2013, 18:19

allah ykhalilna yek ya sayedna

Default-user-icon hanoun (Guest) 26 November 2013, 18:21

allah ykhalilna yek ya sayedna

Thumb chrisrushlau 26 November 2013, 19:40

I wonder what he tells the Pope when the Pope asks why the thirty five percent of Lebanese registered as Christian get the same number of seats in Parliament as the sixty five percent registered as Muslims. (Of course, these demographic numbers are estimates since no census has been taken in almost eighty years. The fifty-fifty split in Parliament seats is a true number, however; al Rahi always calls this "equality".) Does the Pope look at him and say, "You don't look like you're twice as virtuous as a Muslim, and I certainly don't fee like I'm twice as virtuous as a Muslim."

Missing VINCENT 26 November 2013, 21:21

What? We have nothing better to do than measuring religious virtuous? The Country, together the Middle East, is in chaos why?

Missing helicopter 26 November 2013, 23:45

I wonder what you tell yourself as to why Lebanon was a better place when Christians represented over 60% of the population. And what you tell yourself as to why Arab countries and Iran are so messed up eventhough they are almost all Muslims. Get over that broken record of yours (count by sect) and suggest something useful for the country.

Default-user-icon trueself (Guest) 27 November 2013, 11:48

There's no country in the world that doesn't count its citizens living abroad. If this was to happen in Lebanon, the Christian Lebanese would count more than 85% of Lebanon's population which bring me to you point: should the Christians ask for 85% seats in the parliament? The Christians in Lebanon were always a majority; but, despite that they accepted sharing equally the seats in parliament with the Muslims because they believe in sharing. Your comment therefore is void of value and full of vengance.

Default-user-icon Barberosa (Guest) 26 November 2013, 22:07

Ask Zionism and radical Islam, why they have worked very hard to destroy the image of the Middle East and every one live there.

Thumb primesuspect 27 November 2013, 00:53

i have 1 question: who would fabricate such rumor and why? how would it be beneficial 2 any side?

Thumb primesuspect 27 November 2013, 00:55

one day, emil lahood's grandson will be like this lost soul....