The Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai, on April 8, 2022 at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. (Credit: Nabil Ismail)
BEIRUT — The Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai addressed during his Palm Sunday mass the major issues in the Lebanese current affairs, including the preliminary agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund at the end of the week and parliamentary elections scheduled for May 15.
Regarding the latter, he called on voters to make this election “a democratic tool to punish those who have failed and failed.” However, he did not name those he was targeting with his criticism, although in recent months he had pointed to the political camp of President Michel Aoun and his ally, Hezbollah.
“This week, three news items were reported. The visit of Pope Francis to Lebanon in June, the agreement with the IMF and the return of the ambassadors of the Gulf countries to Lebanon. These positive developments come at a time when important regional and international events are taking place. We hope that the state will be able to take advantage of this, so that these events are in the interest of Lebanon,” Rai said during his homily in Bkirki.
Welcoming the pope “with joy and hope”
Regarding the pontiff’s visit, Rai called on his congregation “to be prepared to welcome the pope, with joy and hope.”
On April 5, the Lebanese presidency announced a visit of the pope to Lebanon in June. The Holy See reacted a few hours later, saying that the visit was “a hypothesis under study,” denying that the visit’s date had been determined. This Vatican’s reactions did not prevent the Maronite patriarch from affirming that the pontiff is expected in Lebanon in June.
The legislative elections
Referring to the May 15 parliamentary elections, Rai said that the vote is a way to “make a change between the present and the future and realize the dream of change, which can not take place without a massive vote.” Two days ago, he also pleaded for a strong turnout at the polls.
“The legislative elections are a national responsibility in circumstances that require a modernization of political life, of the political class, as well as of choices and actions. Let these elections be a democratic means to punish those who have failed and failed, and elect those who have fixed positions and patriotic choices. Let these elections serve to implement the expanded decentralization,” he said. “Through the ballot box, we do not want to see only the names of deputies, but also the identity of Lebanon,” he added.
Expected by the international community, the legislative elections are seen by many Lebanese as an opportunity for change of a ruling political class accused of corruption and incompetence, in a country that has been in economic collapse since 2019.
The IMF agreement
Finally, turning his attention to the preliminary agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund, the Maronite patriarch said he expected “the government and Parliament to pass the laws required to obtain the loan.”
On Thursday, the IMF announced the long-awaited conclusion of a preliminary agreement with the Lebanese state. The document aims to launch a conditional financial assistance program for Lebanon to the sum of $3 billion over four years, to address the crisis that has afflicted the country almost three years. A few hours later, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait announced the imminent return of their ambassadors to Lebanon, after five months of absence. The announcement materialized the next day, as part of a resolution of the serious diplomatic crisis between Beirut and the Gulf monarchies that emerged in October against a backdrop of deep differences on the role of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the region.
At the end of his homily, Rai welcomed the return to Lebanon of the ambassadors of Arabia and Kuwait after five months of absence, saying that the move underlined “the friendship and cooperation” between these three countries. “Lebanon is faithful to them, and thousands of Lebanese are working for the development of these countries,” he said, referring to expatriates who have been working in the Gulf for decades.
This article was originally published in French in L’Orient-Le Jour.