The Custody of the Holy Land rejoices with the Maronite Church at the election of Mons. Beshara Rai on 15th March as the new Maronite Patriarch of Lebanon, succeeding Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir (91 years old) who has resigned after 25 years at the head of the Maronite Church.
At 71, Mons. Rai takes the place of Mons. Sfeir at the head of the Maronite Catholic Church of Lebanon, the most powerful in the country. He is the 77th Patriarch since the arrival from Syria of the first disciples of St. Maroun in Lebanon, more than 1500 years ago.
Naturally, the Custody also congratulates all the Maronites in the Holy Land and in particular Mons. Paul Nabil Sayyah, Patriarchal Exarch.
Mab
At 71, Mons. Rai takes the place of Mons. Sfeir at the head of the Maronite Catholic Church of Lebanon, the most powerful in the country. He is the 77th Patriarch since the arrival from Syria of the first disciples of St. Maroun in Lebanon, more than 1500 years ago.
Naturally, the Custody also congratulates all the Maronites in the Holy Land and in particular Mons. Paul Nabil Sayyah, Patriarchal Exarch.
Mab