Cardinal Bechara Raï asks that Christians do not abandon Middle East

Cardinal Bechara Bourtos Raï, patriarch of the Maronite Church in Lebanon, regretted that the Christians of the Middle East are forced to abandon the region, victims of violence and war, because they decisively favor “the formation of a moderate Islam.”

“If this Middle East is emptied as Christians, then Muslims will lose their moderation,” warns the cardinal in an interview with the Pontifical Foundation Help the needy church (ACN).

“Many have had to leave Syria, because no one can live under war, under the bombing,” says the patriarch from the episcopal headquarters of the Maronite Catholic patriarchy of Antioch in Lebanon. Specifically in this country, the economic, financial and insecurity situation joins the war, causing a great Christian exodus.

“The positive part is that they have been able to recommend their lives and have brought their faith for the world. The negative part is that the country is emptying Christians,” said Cardinal Raï, who calls on states to change perspective and adopt the necessary measures to stop this reality.

“It’s not about looking at the number of Christians, but also looking at the value that the presence of Christians brings,” he says.

In Lebanon – a country in the region where the Christian community is a majority – Christians have become a lighthouse of hope for the believers of the Middle East, unlike Iraq, Jordan and Syria, where Christians are considered second -category citizens.

“There are Christians and Muslims around the world, but in Lebanon it is a presence guaranteed by the Constitution and if a government is against coexistence, it is illegal. The Lebanese Constitution guarantees the presence of Christians,” explains the cardinal.

This coexistence, guaranteed even at the constitutional level, is an example that Cardinal Raï expects “that it remains like this”, so that both Christians and Muslims can remain in Lebanon.

“The same in Syria and Iraq. Because this life together creates Muslim moderation. There is a danger that Christians and Muslims emigrate and then, Who will stay with Syria? Who will stay with Iraq? Who will stay with Egypt? It is an unknownHe said.

According to ACN, in Lebanon many Muslim families take their children to Catholic schools, “because they are models of coexistence.” Cardinal Raï, on the other hand, commented that in the south of the country, all students of Catholic schools profess Islam, which represents an opportunity “to provide the value of life in common, the value of moderation.”

“These schools do everything to remain open, especially in the mountains, for the good of citizens,” adds the Patriarch Maronita.

The difficult reality of Lebanese Christians

ACN points out that, in May 2024, the World Bank warns that poverty in Lebanon affected up to 2022 at least 44% of the population. The cardinal said that the consequences of this reality are suffered by the same Christians and Muslims.

“Muslims receive help from Muslim countries and Lebanon’s Christians only help them with the Church, so they are in misery,” he lamented. “Christians are poor and that affects issues such as food, medicines or hospitalization,” he added.

Despite the difficulties, the Patriarch Maronita recognizes that the Lebanese Christian people are one “who says, who fears God, who promises.” The churches, he says, are full of young people and people who pray. “Thanks to this prayer, Lebanon has been able to stand up,” he said.

“The Christians of the Middle East have been born for the Middle East, they must testify to Christianity in the Middle East, with Muslims, with this medium martyred east. This is where our mission is, here we want to stay,” said Cardinal Raï.

Finally, he recalled that the Christians of the Middle East are guardians “of the roots of Christianity in the Holy Land” and that the first communities that adopted the Christian faith are found in the region. “We must help them stay. Don’t leave,” he said.