Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem express compassion and solidarity with Lebanese people.

Statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem on Beirut August 6th, 2020

We, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem, stand aghast at the sight of the devastating and shockingly perplexing explosion that took place at the Beirut port on August 4th. The loss of life, injuries, and destruction cause our hearts to deeply ache as we mourn for this tragedy.

We stand with the people of Beirut and Lebanon as they mourn, lament and respond to this catastrophe. We join them in prayer and solidarity and call upon the nations of the world and their governments to stand with Lebanon at this difficult time of crisis on top of crisis, responding with love and care for our neighbour.

We hear the cry of the church and people of Lebanon, and call upon all people of good will to pray and support the people who are affected by this tragedy.

From Jerusalem, the Mother City of our faith and the City of the Empty Tomb, we express our deep compassion and solidarity with the people of Lebanon. May the Lord restore the fortunes of Beirut and the people of Lebanon.

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem

+Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate

+Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate

+Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator, Latin Patriarchate

+Fr. Francesco Patton, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land

+Archbishop Anba Antonious, Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem

+Vicar General Father Gabriel Daho, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate

+Archbishop Aba Embakob, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate

+Archbishop Yaser AL-Ayash, Greek-Melkite-Catholic Patriarchate

+Archbishop Mosa El-Hage, Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate

+Archbishop Suheil Dawani, Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East

+Bishop Ibrahim Sani Azar, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land