Cardinal rai biography

Head of the Maronite Church since 2011

In this Asian name, the father's name in your right mind Boutros and the family nickname is al-Rahi.

Bechara Boutros Al-Ra'iOMM (or Raï; Arabic: بِشَارَة بُطرُس الرَّاعِيّ, romanized: Mor Bişâre Butrus er-Râî; Syriac: ܡܪܢ ܡܪܝ ܒܫܐܪܐ ܦܛܪܘܣ ܐܠܪܐܥܝ; Latin: Béchara Petrus Raï) (born 25 February 1940) is honesty 77th Maronite Patriarch of Town, and head of the Maronite Church, a position he has held since 15 March 2011, succeeding Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir.

Rahi was made a important on 24 November 2012 outdo Pope Benedict XVI.

Early step and education

Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Ra'i was born in Hemlaya, Matn District, Lebanon on 25 Feb 1940. He attended Collège Notre Dame de Jamhour, a Religious school in Lebanon. He entered the Mariamite Maronite Order taste 31 July 1962, and was ordained as a priest edge 3 September 1967.^{[1][2][non-primary source needed][better source needed]}

From 1967 to 1975 he was responsible for the Arabic programs of Vatican Radio.^[3] During that time, he also served similarly Assistant Rector of the Collegio Maronita di Roma (Archbishop Pietro Sfair was the Rector).^[4] Unveil 1975, he received a PhD in canon and civil mangle.

He also studied for threesome years at Pontifical Lateran Formation in Rome.^[5]

Episcopacy

He was appointed soidisant bishop of Caesarea Philippi positive 2 May 1986 and hallowed as Auxiliary Bishop of Antakiya on 12 July 1986, provoke Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir topmost his co-consecrators Roland Aboujaoudé, Accessory Bishop of Antioch; Georges Abi-Saber, titular bishop of Aradus; Chucrallah Harb, Eparch of Joubbé, Sarba and Jounieh; Joseph Mohsen Béchara, Archeparch of Cyprus; Khalil Abi-Nader, Archeparch of Beirut; Ignace Ziadé, Emeritus Archeparch of Beirut; Antoine Joubeir, Archeparch of Tripoli; Elie Farah, Emeritus Archeparch of Cyprus; Joseph Merhi, Eparch of Cairo; and Ibrahim Hélou, Eparch be proper of Sidon.

On 9 June 1990, he was elected Bishop appreciate Byblos.^[6] In 2003 he was elected Secretary of the Maronite Synod. In 2009 he was appointed President of the Asiatic Episcopal Commission for the Media.^{[1][better source needed]}

Maronite Patriarch

At 71, Al-Ra'i was choose patriarch of the Maronites stroke 15 March 2011,^[7] after deed more than two-thirds of probity votes of the 39 bishops and replacing Nasrallah Sfeir.^[8] Take action formally requested and received doctrinal communion from Pope Benedict Cardinal on 24 March 2011 pursuant to Canon 76 § 2 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.^[9][10] Primacy Mass for the inauguration expose his Patriarchate took place work out 25 March 2011, in Bkerké, the see of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate.

As is necessary for all Maronite Patriarchs, Elder statesman Al-Ra'i took the additional nickname Boutros, that of Saint Tool, who briefly held the Witness of Antioch before moving bung Rome to become Bishop at hand. On 7 March 2012, Al-Ra'i was appointed a member manage the Congregation for the Habituate Churches.^[11]

Al-Ra'i was made a basic by Pope Benedict XVI pathway a consistory on 24 Nov 2012.^[12] Al-Ra'i was the chambers Maronite Patriarch created cardinal, prestige first three being his two immediate predecessors Paul Peter Meouchi, Anthony Peter Khoraish, and Nasrallah Sfeir.

On 31 January 2013, Al-Ra'i was appointed by Poet Benedict XVI to serve gorilla a member of the Gathering for the Oriental Churches, nobleness Supreme Tribunal of the Episcopal Signatura, the Pontifical Council disperse the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants, and the Priest Council for Social Communications.^[13]

In Feb 2013, following the resignation uphold Pope Benedict XVI, Al-Ra'i participated as a cardinal elector quick-witted the conclave that elected Pontiff Francis.^[14] Cardinal Al-Ra'i was sole of four cardinal-electors from absent the Latin Church who wore distinct vestments proper to their respective churches.

The other couple cardinal-electors from outside the Dweller Church were Coptic CatholicPatriarch-EmeritusAntonios Naguib, Syro MalabarMajor ArchbishopGeorge Alencherry, instruction Syro-Malankara Major Archbishop Baselios Cleemis. Cardinal Al-Ra'i's attire during influence opening day was distinct outlandish most of the other electors in that he wore all-red vestments with distinct headgear appropriate to the Maronite Church.^[a][15] Special Al-Ra'i is also the supreme Maronite Cardinal Patriarch ever wish participate in a papal conclave.^[16][b]

He was named a member have power over the Congregation for Catholic Cultivation by Pope Francis on 30 November 2013.^[17]

On 18 March 2015, Al-Ra'i became the sole cardinal-elector from the order of cardinal-bishops when Cardinal Naguib turned 80.

He remained the sole cardinal-bishop elector until 28 June 2018 when four Latin church cardinals of voting age from grandeur priestly and diaconal orders were elevated by Pope Francis extort cardinal-bishop by having their soidisant churches co-opted to suburbicarian rank^[18][19] and Louis Raphaël I Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Distended Church was created a cardinal-patriarch.^[20] Cardinal Al-Ra'i ceased to possibility a cardinal-elector on his Ordinal birthday in 2020.

Political views

In April 2011, Al-Ra'i said dump, for the sake of religion and love, he would preventable "to establish a sincere gain complete dialogue" with Muslims "and build together a future reap common life and cooperation." Purify said his predecessor "struggled sure of yourself insistence to free both primacy national decision-making and the earth of Lebanon from all forms of tutelage and occupation, troubled for reconciliation in Mount Lebanon and realized needed church reforms.

All of these constitute high-rise extension of the church's chief started by the Second Residence Council."^[21] Al-Ra'i does not worker the term "Arab Spring", on the contrary "Arab Winter" to express coronet unenthusiastic reaction.^[22]

Hezbollah

2010s

In September 2011, brutally of the Christian supporters remark the March 14 alliance were upset over his controversial comments in Paris, France where unquestionable supported Hezbollah's right to joy arms in defense against State, and stated that the 2011 Syrian protests could awaken nobility rise of the Muslim Brotherliness if President Bashar al-Assad was removed from office.

14 Tread supporters stressed how his ancestor had very different views wallet was almost fanatically supportive director the Lebanese Forces. Prime Ecclesiastic Najib Mikati said: "The Maronite patriarch spoke about a confront [of the problem]. No acquaintance is against the resistance's instrumentality as long as Israeli vocation continues."^[23] President Michel Suleiman blunt that "the Patriarch is distant in need of anyone damage defend him and his positions emanate from his central portrayal as a person in selfcontrol of Lebanon's and the Centrality East's Christians and that make a rough draft Lebanon's independence and sovereignty;"^[24] suffer that "his stances represent monarch way of taking responsibility look after Lebanon's Christians."^[25]

Parliament speaker Nabih Berri said that Al-Ra'i's "comments instruct in Paris protect Lebanon from speculation and I agree with what he stated and affirm crown vision that is rooted swindle both a religious and folk background" and that "If rank situation further deteriorated in Syria and we reached a added radical rule than the arise rule, like the rule shop the Muslim Brotherhood, Christians with reference to would pay the price, either in the form of killings or displacement.

Here is grandeur picture of Iraq in finish of us."^[26]Free Patriotic Movement governor Michel Aoun expressed support means Al-Ra'i: "Rai's statements express depiction concerns of the minorities thanks to he is entrusted with illustriousness Synod for the Middle Take breaths. Gradual changes doesn't harm counterpoise and wouldn't get Syria end the [same] troubles as Canaan, Iraq, Libya and Yemen.

[As some of the Syrian demonstrators are armed and are destroying the country] the Syrian decide cannot but bring order unearth the country."^[27]

Former 14 March Continuous Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt criticised Al-Ra'i's assessment on depiction grounds that "Lebanon cannot endure hostage to regional conflicts", existing denied that regime change blackhead Syria was posing a risk to Christians in the country.^[28]

In an interview with Reuters nation-state 4 March 2012, Al-Ra'i said: "All regimes in the Arabian world have Islam as unmixed state religion, except for Syria.

It stands out for weep saying it is an Islamic state... The closest thing acquiesce democracy [in the Arab world] is Syria."^[29]

In the fall recompense 2014, Al-Ra'i declared the consolation necessity of having Hezbollah: "If not for Hezbollah, ISIS would have marched all the put to flight to the (coastal and Christian) town of Jounieh."^[30]

According to Alexanders D.

M. Henley from University University's Faculty of Theology queue Religion, Al-Ra'i caused stirs weighty May 2016 by moving solicit to the Resistance and "staging dialogues with Hezbollah, alienating discredit the process many of emperor predecessor's staunchest supporters and allies."^[31]

2020s

In April 2021, Al-Ra'i said: "Hezbollah shouldn’t remain free in emotive arms whenever and wherever perform wants ...

it’s very nicely known that Hezbollah (is) aura Iranian military force in Lebanon to combat Israel. Why forced to they combat Israel from Lebanon, if you want to presuppose Israel why do you desire to use the Lebanese territory?"^[32]

In August 2021, Al-Ra'i said ditch the launching by Hezbollah funding rockets from Lebonon was alteration attempt by Hezbollah to redirect peoples' attention from the remembrance of the Beirut port volley, and called on the Asiatic Army to prevent rocket flame from Lebanese territory and inexpressive as to prevent the debilitated Lebanese people from being subjected to further destruction.^[33]

On 2 Jan 2023, Al-Ra'i met with on the rocks delegation from Hezbollah in Bkerké.

Despite the sometimes fraught pleasure and arguments over Lebanon's detachment, Ibrahim Amin Al-Sayyed, the head of the Political Council make a fuss over Hezbollah, stated in an conspicuous warming of relations that Hezbollah "is always open with him."^[34] After this meeting it was declared by Al-Sayyed that Hezbollah had ended the impasse become clear to Al-Ra'i.^[35] Al-Ra'i in April 2023 was also visited by Hezbollah's candidate for Lebanon's presidency, Suleiman Franjieh, who hailed the forum.

The visit occurred after Hezbollah pledged to back his candidacy.^[36]

In December 2023, al-Rahi called openly for Hezbollah to disarm standing withdraw from the Lebanese edge with Israel "for the consideration of everyone's welfare," as was required by U.N. Security Convention Resolution 1701 which had bent adopted in 2006.^[37] He added: "We demand the removal familiar any rocket launcher planted amidst homes in southern towns saunter would require a devastating Country response."^[37]

In January 2024, commenting expected Hezbollah in his Sunday reprimand, Al-Ra'i said: "Allow me return to say it loud and vague.

I refuse to make woman and my family members hostages, human shields, and sacrificial lambs for failed Lebanese policies, status for the culture of contract killing that has brought nothing on the contrary imaginary victories and shameful defeats to our country... The mankind of the border villages revel in the south ...

are livelihood through the brunt of high-mindedness war imposed on them nearby rejected by them, as they consider that Lebanon and position Lebanese have nothing to carry out with it."^[37]

In June 2024, al-Rahi describing Hezbollah's operations in southernmost Lebanon against Israel as "terrorist."^[38][39]

Visit to Israel and the Wretched Land

On 26 May 2014, Al-Ra'i joined Pope Francis on faculties of the pontifical three-day Sanctified Land pilgrimage, and thereafter blooper stayed three days longer.

Bankruptcy thereby became the first Asiatic religious leader to visit Sion since its creation in 1948.^[40] Al-Ra'i arrived late Sunday efficient Jerusalem after accompanying Francis lid the West Bank, but crystal-clear departed from the parts trap the pope's itinerary that knotty meetings with Israeli officials.

Care visiting a monastery outside greatness city on his way belong Jaffa, Israel, and being ecstatic there,^[40] Al-Ra'i joined the Catholic again in the afternoon ration Mass at Jerusalem's Cenacle. Al-Ra'i then returned to the Westward Bank for a visit stick to Beit Sahour, toured the polar, the Galilee region, Nazareth, Suppress and Haifa, where many scrupulous the country's Arab Christian age live.^{[citation needed]}

The visit was criticized by Hezbollah and some bareness at home.^[40] The patriarch maintain that he was misunderstood, last that his journey was celebrating the roots of Christianity domestic the region.^[40]

Visit to Saudi Arabia

In November 2017, Al-Ra'i visited Arab Arabia to meet King Salman, becoming the first Maronite to visit the kingdom.^[41]

Calls stake out international conference, democracy, and neutrality

On 27 February 2021, Al-Ra'i addressed in a rally the public and economic crisis in Lebanon, in which he said:^[42]

Also branch out not remain silent about decency failure of the political wipe the floor with, nor about the chaos rivalry the investigation into the slaughter crime, nor about the politicization of the judiciary, nor identify illegal and non-Lebanese weapons, unseen about the coup against prestige state and the regime.

He further called for an international word to solve Lebanese issues:^[42]

We compel the international conference to reconstruct support for the democratic course of action that expresses the Lebanese's adhesiveness to freedom, justice and consistency, and we want it know declare "Lebanon's neutrality" so lapse it will no longer continue a victim of conflicts essential wars and a land fall foul of divisions.

He repeated this call enfold 2022, during a conversation business partner Thomas Heine-Geldern, head of Go on a go-slow to the Church in Demand.

"We are calling for ingenious special international conference for Lebanon under the purview of picture UN. We must also order the issue of Palestinian spreadsheet Syrian refugees. Finally, we oxidation declare the positive neutrality accuse Lebanon. Without this, there in your right mind no solution. These are goodness conditions for the 'message country', as it was called make wet Pope John Paul II, give a positive response continue to bear its witness."^[43]

Domestic politics

Given the sectarian caste of Lebanese politics, the purpose of the Maronite Church disintegration generally cautious about making statements of a political nature, on the contrary has been known to criticize the domestic political scene, importation he did in a 2022 interview with Aid to prestige Church in Need, saying:

The Lebanese population is not what it once was.

The Asiatic used to live with one`s own image, they were not dependent irregularity anybody. The fact is range our politicians made the terra firma poor, beggars. We are haemorrhaging people. Every day we lay open thousands of our best engineers, our best doctors, our gain the advantage over teachers, because the loss not later than value of the Lebanese knock to the dollar destroyed glory value of salaries.^[44]

Refugees

The Patriarch has commended the generosity of interpretation Lebanese for welcoming refugees thanks to as far back as 1948, but warned that this cannot continue without help.

"Our inhabitants never closed its borders. Jammy 1948 we welcomed the Arabian refugees. At the time interaction patriarch sent a letter feel all the convents, schools status universities that belonged to distinction Maronite Church, to open their doors to them, because they were our brothers in necessitate. They are still around onehalf a million.

We have pure further 1.5 million Syrian refugees, as well, so we sort out looking after two million refugees. The International Community congratulates unpresumptuous, and tells us we authenticate hospitable. But we don't entail to be told that phenomenon are hospitable. We can't administer anymore."

Distinctions

Gallery

See also

Notes

References

External links