Rai leads series of meetings after over month of recovery

Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai announced on Tuesday the resumption of his weekly spiritual appointments, which had been interrupted for nearly a month due to a health issue from which he has now "recovered." A mass was held in this context at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, at the patriarchal seat in Bkirki, in the presence of worshippers, according to a statement relayed by the National News Agency.

Aged 85, the head of the Maronite Church had tripped over his cassock on April 20 during the Easter mass as he was heading to the altar and had fractured his hip. He subsequently underwent a successful surgical procedure.

During the day, the patriarch also received Lebanon's ambassador to Venezuela, Elias Lebbos, with whom he "reviewed the situation of the Lebanese community in Venezuela," and reaffirmed "the importance of strengthening ties between the Lebanese diaspora and their country of origin at all levels." The Maronite dignitary also welcomed many visitors who came to inquire about his health or discuss various pastoral, social or community-related topics.

Since the Easter Mass during which he broke his hip, Rai's appearances had been particularly rare, and he had notably not held Sunday masses in Bkirki. He had also not gone to the Vatican for Pope Francis' funeral or the inaugural mass of the new pontiff, Leo XIV. However, he presided over the May 21 monthly meeting of Maronite bishops, normally held on the first Wednesday of the month.