Need for a Leader to Restore Confidence

Nasrallah Pierre Cardinal Sfeir

Function: Patriarch of Antiochia, Lebanon

Title: Cardinal Bishop, No titular church

Birthdate: May 15, 1920	Country: Lebanon

Elevated: Nov 26, 1994	More information: www.catholic-hierarchy.org

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Need for a Leader to Restore Confidence
Oct 07, 2005
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir highlighted the country's need for a leader to restore confidence in themselves and their country during yesterday's Mass. Sfeir said Lebanon was being plunged into "deadly confusion" regarding the impact of the expected report from the international probe into the murder of former Premier Rafik Hariri.

(Assyrian International News Agency, September 25, 2005) BEIRUT -- The Maronite Bishops Synod expressed concern for recent developments over the weekend and condemned this month's Jeitawi bombing, saying the latest attack was aimed at "undermining stability." The Bishops called on the government to provide adequate security to all sectors of the country, and compensation for those who sustained damages from the bombing.

At the closing ceremony of their annual conclave, which began in Bkirki on Monday, the bishops issued a statement urging the Lebanese to unify ranks and avoid sedition by establishing a constructive dialogue. Bishops from Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Cyprus, Europe, Australia, Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Brazil and Argentina were on hand for the conclave.

It added Lebanese should contribute to maintaining a country "of co-existence among all confessions," and urged officials to be a positive example of such cohesiveness.

During the meeting, the bishops also re-established an Episcopal Committee charged with examining the situation of Maronites in areas where there are no dioceses, such as the Arab Gulf, Africa, Europe and some countries in the Americas.

The committee is to prepare studies and determine how to establish dioceses in countries where Maronites are present.

According to An-Nahar, the Synod has elected five priests for vacant dioceses and submitted their names to the Vatican for approval.

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