In a surprising statement but a timely one that has been made by Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan of Antioch and all the East of the Syriacs to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), he states that Christian emigration from Lebanon urgently needs to be stemmed. He also warned that--with the spiraling economic crisis with more than 50 per cent of the population living below the poverty line accompanied by an upsurge in violence--"if the West fails to help the Christians in Lebanon, the community could soon be extinct."
He added, "We are very, very scared that if this crisis continues it will be the end of Christians in Lebanon and the whole of the Middle East in a few years. Normally when Christians leave, as happened in Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, they don’t return. They ask, ‘Why should we return when we can neither guarantee our children a decent life nor religious freedom?’”
Actually with the deteriorating and intolerable situation in Lebanon, that covers all walks of life, Christians leave amass under the impression that they cannot endure a situation in which the future seems to be bleak with no bright future for the new generations is in the offing.
Lebanon’s persistent failure to restore its thriving past is a silent killer which triggers a precipitous exodus of Christians, consequently changing the face of Lebanon and pushing it into an abysmal situation. What is alarming are the emerging reports which indicate that Lebanon's Christian youth primarily, along with entire Christian families, are packing and leaving permanently which renders Lebanon indistinguishable from its Arab surroundings in terms of the absence of basic freedoms, common living, and pluralist coexistence.”
In medical treatmets, the procedure followed when someone suffers from a chronic or serious health condition is surgery. This situation applies to the "suffering" Lebanon which urgently needs strict surgical operations and measures that restore its glorious status quo ante, brings about normalcy, and ensures a bright future for its population.
Is there a viable solution to this intricate crisis?
One of the viable solutions on hand and designed to heal Lebanon's ailing situation is establishing a special fund that reverses the hemorrhaging of Christians from their crisis-stricken nation. Such a fund could help support Christians struggling to maintain their culture by giving a reason to remain in their ancestral homeland during a time when the economy is in shambles. This proposal will temporarily solve some of the lingering problems, but will not provide the desired panacea as the continued flow of funds is never ensured. Furthermore, the proposed funds will neither ensure the Lebanese a decent life nor serve as a magic wand that guarantees solving all their intricate problems.
The only durable solution probably seems to be viable is convening an international conference under the aegis of the United Nations that gets down to the nitty-gritty of the problems undermining the stability of Lebanon; defines the root-cause of its chronic problems; finds viable solutions that restores credibility to a powerful state acting to ensure its territorial integrity and safety; establishes bases for a healthy economy; as well as restores a dignified life for its citizens based on equality, loyalty to the homeland. Lebanon has over the past years been a Middle Eastern minaret whose light outshines other nations with regards to culture and education. Will Lebanon restore its role as a fortress for peace and common living?
Lord Jesus Christ said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies…”
Lord Jesus will not allow the "death of Lebanon." He promised helping those who are weary when he said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
On October 18, 2021, with children from Fátima to Myanma, over 100,000 children have enrolled in this year’s “A million children praying the Rosary” initiative, organized by Aid to the Church in Need International (ACN). Furthermore, in response to the initiative called for by the “Aid to the Church in Need” organization, to join a Rosary prayer campaign for peace and unity in the world, the Catechetical Office of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem all Catholic schools and parishes in Palestine united together by praying the Rosary at the same time, on October 16, 2021.
May Lord Jesus Christ bless Lebanon, as well as restore its peace, security and stability.
