Maronite Patriarch Rai "a symbol of unification" for Lebanon
On Monday, Pope Benedict XVI received in audience the six new Cardinals raised to
the College of Cardinals in last Saturday’s Consistory. The Cardinals were accompanied
by family members and faithful from their local communities.
The President
of Caritas Lebanon came from Beirut for this weekend’s celebrations for Maronite Patriarch
Bechara Rai’s elevation to Cardinal. Fr. Simon Faddoul told Tracey McClure that hopes
are high among the faithful in Lebanon that Patriarch Rai will be able to act as a
symbol of unification at a time when political unrest and conflict in neighbouring
Syria threaten to destabilize the country.