As Lebanon's Catholic leaders appealed for help for their country, international organisations appealed for donations for Beirut, capital of a country already suffering from a severe economic downturn.
“The church, which has set up a relief network throughout Lebanese territory, now finds itself faced with a new great duty, which it is incapable of assuming on its own,” said Cardinal Bechara Rai, Maronite patriarch. He called for a UN-controlled fund to be set up to manage aid for the reconstruction of Beirut and other international assistance to aid the stricken country.
In Lebanon, Maronite Catholics are the largest Christian group. In the United States, two Maronite bishops noted that the explosions, which left more than 130 people dead and more than 300,000 homeless, “turned Beirut into an apocalyptic city”. Hospitals, schools, houses, businesses, and much more are destroyed, leaving people feeling hopeless and helpless, they said.
“We ask for your support for our brothers and sisters at this difficult time and in response to this catastrophe,” said the statement, signed by Bishops Gregory Mansour of the Eparchy of St Maron of Brooklyn and A Elias Zaidan of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles.
“We urge you to pray for Lebanon, and we ask for your support for our brothers and sisters at this difficult time and in response to this catastrophe. We appeal to all nations, all people of goodwill, to stand in solidarity with the Lebanese. We hope and pray Lebanon will regain stability and initiate a path of recovery toward peace and justice for all.”
Pope Francis tweeted: “Let us pray for the victims of the explosions in Beirut and for their families; and let us pray for Lebanon so that, through the dedication of all its social, political and religious elements, it might face this extremely tragic and painful moment.”
In Beirut, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan appealed to all people of good will: “Here is Beirut, crying out for help.” He said all Syriac parishes would use everything at their disposal to help.
“We value all relief, aid and assistance provided to those affected, especially for Beirut residents and its suburbs,” he said, also appealing for prayers and referring to the victims as martyrs.
In a statement from the Melkite Catholic Patriarchate in Damascus, Patriarch Joseph Absi also referred to those who died as martyrs.
“The time now is not for the sharing of responsibilities nor for disputes, but for the tireless work to reduce the repercussions of the national catastrophe and to ... reject differences and work together to avoid the worst,” he said.
Here are some Catholic agencies where you can donate to help the citizens of Lebanon:
Catholic Near East Welfare Association, a Vatican agency.
Caritas Internationalis, the umbrella organisation for Catholic charitable agencies such as Catholic Relief Services, Development and Peace, Cafod.
Cafod has set up its own appeal for Beirut.
Aid to the Church in Need, a pontifical foundation.
Malteser International, relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta.
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