Beirut, Lebanon – Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi presided over a Divine Liturgy at Our Lady Church in the Patriarchal Residence in Bkerke,
to commemorate the eleventh anniversary of the martyrdom of Sobhi and Nadima Fakhri.
The prayer service was attended by a large official and social gathering,
including political figures, the families of the two martyrs, and a crowd of believers.
This reflected the extent of solidarity with the humanitarian and national cause of the “Al Fakhri” family.
The Al-Fakhri case: A model of sophistication in a time of moral decay
At the beginning of his sermon, the shepherd paused to reflect on the tragedy of the Bekaa town of “Btedai”,
noting with bitterness that the two martyrs were assassinated in front of their home
without any fault of their own, except for the killers’ desire to steal their car to escape from the army.
Although the killers are known by name, justice is still absent.
This prompted the shepherd to commend the stance of the deceased’s family;
They set a high example of national progress by rejecting the principle
of “revenge” and adhering to the path of the state and the judiciary.
Political messages
On the other hand, Patriarch Rai linked the religious dimension to the crisis-ridden Lebanese reality,
directing sharp criticism at the ruling class.
He stressed that “there is no salvation for Lebanon without true legitimacy,”
while emphasizing that this legitimacy can only be achieved through respect for the law and justice.
Accordingly, the shepherd warned that the continued emptying of institutions
and circumvention of the constitution makes the homeland threatened in its essence and the dignity of its people.
Lebanese identity as a message of encounter
Furthermore, the shepherd considered that Lebanon’s identity should remain
a “meeting space” away from the conflicts of the axes.
Since peace is not just a dream, it requires courageous decisions to be made today
to reform institutions and restore lost trust between the state and the citizen.
The Patriarch then called for an honest reading of history in order to
heal Lebanon from its repeated failures and enter a “new era” of stability.
A prayer for peace and leadership
Patriarch Rai concluded the Mass with a prayer for Lebanon to find
its way towards a just and lasting peace.
Since the responsibility lies with the leaders, he hoped they would
become “servants of the common good” instead of narrow interests.
This ensures the protection of the dignity of the Lebanese citizen
who is fed up with the absence of justice and accountability.
