Christians in Lebanon remain a sizeable and politically powerful minority, compared to elsewhere in the Middle East. They make up roughly one third of the country’s population of 4.4 million, and Lebanese President Michel AounMichel AounMichel Naim Aoun is a Lebanese politician who is the current President of Lebanon. He was elected president on 31 October 2016 on the 46th electoral session of the Lebanese parliament, breaking a 29-month deadlock. He is a Maronite Christian and the founder of the Free Patriotic Movement.en.wikipedia.orgis the only Christian head of state in the region.

Is the balance of Christian life in Lebanon shifting?

Yet the balance has shifted and become increasingly unstable after more and more Christians have left their homeland. In August 2020 Beirut was shaken by one of the most violent peacetime explosions in human history.

Is Lebanon a model for the entire Middle East?

Interview with the parish priest at the Maronite Catholic cathedral in Beirut. Lebanon is often held up as a model for the entire Middle East, not least because of the comparative stability of inter-faith relations within the country.

What is happening to the Catholic Church in Beirut?

The international Catholic pastoral charity and pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN International) is funding the restoration work on this cathedral and on 16 other Church properties in Beirut.Interview by Tobias Lehner. Life in Beirut has not been the same since the explosion four months ago.

Why is Lebanon so unstable?

Lebanon is often held up as a model for the entire Middle East, not least because of the comparative stability of inter-faith relations within the country. Yet the balance has shifted and become increasingly unstable after more and more Christians have left their homeland. In August 2020 Beirut was shaken by one of the most violent peacetime explosions in human history. Now the Lebanese capital faces an existential crisis – and with it the entire country – already plagued by economic mismanagement and corruption, and by a political and banking crisis.Father Jad Chlouk, aged 38, is parish priest at the Maronite Cathedral of Saint George in Beirut. He describes how the Church is present and helping all the needy. The cathedral itself was also badly damaged by the explosion. The international Catholic pastoral charity and pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN International) is funding the restoration work on this cathedral and on 16 other Church properties in Beirut.Interview by Tobias Lehner.

How long does it take to fix the roof of Maronite Cathedral?

We expect to finish fixing the roof in a couple of weeks, while as for the other openings, the fixing of the damaged windows and doors, this work is still in progress.

How many languages does Aleteia have?

Here are some numbers: 20 million users around the world read Aleteia.org every month. Aleteia is published every day in seven languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, and Slovenian.

How many people read Aleteia?

Here are some numbers: 1 20 million users around the world read Aleteia.org every month 2 Aleteia is published every day in seven languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, and Slovenian 3 Each month, readers view more than 50 million pages 4 Nearly 4 million people follow Aleteia on social media 5 Each month, we publish 2,450 articles and around 40 videos 6 We have 60 full time staff and approximately 400 collaborators (writers, translators, photographers, etc.)

How does immigration affect Christians?

The statistics show that more than 380,000 requests for immigration were presented to the embassies of the EU and the countries of North America, and that most of them were from Christians, who unfortunately now feel like strangers in their own home country. This is negatively affecting the whole Christian community, because it is losing most of its brightest and best, and especially its young people, who are supposed to be the future of the Christians here. Hence, the number of Christians in the country is decreasing day by day, and this is badly affecting the situation and causing still more pressure for those who remain, in a situation where they might soon suffer from persecution. This is not a conspiracy theory; this is the reality that we have witnessed in our closest neighbors, including Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Jordan …

Why do we look towards the future with hope?

Despite everything, we look towards the future with hope, because we know that our Lord Jesus Christ is the Master of history, and that in His hands lie all our history and life. With Him and through Him we are sure that “all things work for good for those who love God” (Rom 8:28).

Is Beirut in crisis?

In August 2020 Beirut was shaken by one of the most violent peacetime explosions in human history. Now the Lebanese capital faces an existential crisis – and with it the entire country – already plagued by economic mismanagement and corruption, and by a political and banking crisis.Father Jad Chlouk, aged 38, is parish priest at …

What could lead to mass exodus of Christians?

Civil unrest in Lebanon could lead to mass exodus of Christians.

Why did Christians leave the Middle East?

Since the Arab Spring, there has overall been an exodus of Christians from the Middle East due to violence, oppression, and threats of extermination, especially in Egypt, Palestinian-controlled territories, and Syria. However, the number of Christians in Israel has grown over the past few decades. Israel continues to be a safe haven …

What happened to the port of Beirut?

The explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, significantly exacerbated this situation. People were outraged and took to the streets in protest with many Christians among them. Traditionally Christian-majority neighborhoods were reportedly the worst affected by the blast. [1] One Christian minister said at a prayer gathering about a week later, “We come with a broken heart and a holy anger.”

Is Hezbollah a threat to Christians?

Although some have attempted to downplay the threat of Hezbollah to Christians’ safety in Le banon, [1] there is no doubt that Christians are being persecuted by extremist groups in the country, including Hezbollah. [2] The more powerful and influential Hezbollah becomes in Lebanon, the less safe Lebanese Christians are.

Do Christians live in Lebanon?

It is commonly understood that Christians living in Lebanon consider themselves second-class citizens and live in fear of persecution. [1] With Hezbollah—which called for the establishment of sharia law in Lebanon in its original 1985 manifesto—expanding its influence in Lebanon, having infiltrated Lebanon’s parliament, military, and social sectors, the inevitable result will be the persecution of Christians if the terrorist army is not stopped.

Is Israel a safe haven for Christians?

In stark contrast to Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon, Israel is fully committed to equality under the law for all citizens, regardless of religion, race or nationality. Israel is the only state in the Middle East where Christians and their holy sites are protected. Since the Arab Spring, there has overall been an exodus of Christians from the Middle East due to violence, oppression, and threats of extermination, especially in Egypt, Palestinian-controlled territories, and Syria. However, the number of Christians in Israel has grown over the past few decades. Israel continues to be a safe haven for minorities in the Middle East that wish to live their lives without oppression.