Al-Rahi Travels to U.S: I am Not a Man of Politics
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stressed on Saturday that his visit to the United States is simply a pastoral one.
He said: “I am not a man of politics or a man of state.”
He made his statements from the airport ahead of traveling to the United States where he is scheduled to visit a number of American cities, including New York and Los Angeles, where he will meet with members of the Maronite diaspora.
Asked about his call to hold a regional spiritual summit, al-Rahi replied: “The summit plays a major role in breaking the ice in the region and reinforcing Christian and Muslim principles.”
On whether he may visit Syria, he said: “It is my duty as patriarch to visit all parishes in Jordan, the holy land, Syria, and Arab world. I am obligated to visit all Maronites in the Arab world.”
Al-Rahi held talks on Friday with President Michel Suleiman ahead of his trip “out of his keenness on the role of the president as he precedes any foreign visit by holding talks with Suleiman,” a source monitoring the situation told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Saturday.
The two sides noted that Lebanon is facing several dangers, the first is the danger against the Christians in the East, the second is the plan to divide the Middle East into sectarian “statelets,” the third is the Israeli threat against the region, and the last is the danger of plans to naturalize Palestinians in Lebanon.
“The patriarch is convinced that the Christians in Syria will face the same fate as those in Iraq,” it added.
It also revealed that al-Rahi will visit Iraq regardless of the security dangers in the country.
“His desire to visit Iraq stems from his loyalty towards the Christians who remain there,” it stressed.
“The trip is aimed at helping those who emigrated from Iraq return to their country,” it stated.
Al-Rahi reiterated these fears during a recent visit to France where he voiced a concern that extremists may assume power in Syria should anti-regime protests succeed in toppling the leadership.
The trip to Iraq will serve as a precursor to staging a spiritual summit in the Middle East, added As Safir.
The patriarch is expected to visit the Vatican after his trips to the United States and Iraq.
This last trip will demonstrate the extent of the current coordination between the patriarch and Vatican, reported the newspaper.
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