BEIRUT: Pope Benedict XVI will officially give his blessing to newly elected Patriarch Beshara Rai as the 77th head of Lebanon’s Maronite Church Thursday, during a celebratory day at the Vatican.
Rai, who arrived in Rome two days ago, held talks with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini Wednesday before participating in an honorary banquet held by Lebanon’s ambassador to the Vatican, George Khoury.
Rai highlighted the importance of Christian-Muslim dialogue while in the Vatican, as he paved the way for the resumption of dialogue between Bkirki, the seat of the Maronite patriarchate, and Hezbollah following his return to Beirut.
The patriarch said he asked members of a Hezbollah delegation, which visited Bkirki last month to congratulate the new patriarch, to revive the dialogue committee between Bkirki and the party.
Rai also called on Lebanese political leaders to stop exploiting the issue of the abolition of political sectarianism to accomplish political gains.
The patriarch was also quoted as rejecting achieving such a goal through threats, although he has said he supports the abolition of political sectarianism.
Christians, who make up almost 40 percent of the population, fear the abolition of political sectarianism would weaken their role in the confessional power-sharing system as demographics have shifted in favor of Muslims due to high emigration and low birth rates among the Christian community.
The current confessional power-sharing system guarantees parity between Muslims and Christians in Parliament, as well as in state administrative positions.
Rai had earlier voiced support for the establishment of a civil state but added that before abolishing political sectarianism, the Lebanese should agree on a precise definition of the term, the framework of its abolition and an alternative system.
Also, Bkirki is expected to sponsor a meeting of rival Christian leaders in a bid to ease tension within the Christian community next Tuesday. However, Rai refused to elaborate on the expected meeting during a telephone interview with a local television station.
Rai’s election comes at a critical time for the Christian community, whose leading political parties are divided between the Future Movement-led March 14 alliance and the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition.
While March 14 Christian factions have recently escalated their campaign against Hezbollah’s weapons after their decision to boycott the new Cabinet, Hezbollah’s ally, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, continues to quarrel with President Michel Sleiman, a Maronite, over shares in the new government.
The Christian gathering at Bkirki is expected to include Aoun, and the leaders of the Lebanese Forces (Samir Geagea), the Kataeb (Phalange) Party (Amin Gemayel) and the Marada (Suleiman Franjieh).
During an honorary dinner banquet held by the Maronite Diaspora League, which coincided with the 36th anniversary of the Civil War, Rai said the Lebanese should learn from past mistakes and refrain from repeating them.