Lebanon, at the confines of the war. Cap.8: Christians in danger

(To Alessandra Mulas, Giampiero de Luca)
02/05/16

Lebanon is a multi-confessional country that brings together different ethnic groups (18 is officially recognized by several religious denominations) used to living together without problems. The same political system provides a constitutional pact that establishes the division of the highest state burdens between the three main groups: Christian Maronites, Sunnis and Shiites.

But what is the real situation of Christians in this small country, which for its geopolitical position suffers the repercussions of the terrible persecution inflicted in recent years by Islamic State terrorists? We talk about it with Father Abdo Raad Vicar General of the Basilian Salvatorian Order of the Convent of the Holy Savior, which stands in a beautiful valley in the Lebanese Mountains in the Region of Chouf a few kilometers from Sidon, and director of the school, still within the same complex, which gathers around 250 students including many Syrian refugees.

Father Abdo is very attached to Italy and is proud to show us the many projects carried out with some Italian non-governmental organizations and associations in favor of Syrian and Iraqi refugees who have settled in the surrounding area. He also gave birth to the “Annass Linnas” association with which he carries out numerous activities in favor of the weakest. The last is 'Cash for Work' which allows Syrians and Lebanese to work side by side and create synergy and integration between them who in such a tragic moment are forced to share the scarce resources of the territory and the little work available.

Together with Father Abdo we hope that the wake of violence will soon end, life can resume its course and that Christians can return to growth and have the important role that history has always attributed to it.