Today the Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Order of Malta met the Maronite Patriarch Béchara Raï in Bkerké, on the last day of his visit in Lebanon. During the meeting, the patriarch emphasised the importance of the international community recognising Lebanon’s sovereignty and neutrality, while the Grand Chancellor reiterated the Order fo Malta’s full support in this recovery phase. “President Aoun and with him Prime Minister Salam and the government,” said Patriarch Raï, “enjoy the full trust of all Lebanese. Their task is not easy, but we all trust that they can do what is necessary to start rebuilding the country, make new reforms and revive the economy.”
Yesterday the Grand Chancellor was in the area of West Beqaa. In the morning, he visited the Mobile Medical Unit in Kefraya, which serves most vulnerable people, then he moved to the Kefraya Community Center, managed by the Order of Malta in Lebanon in cooperation with the “Soeurs de la charité de Besançon”. The Center has become a pillar in this large rural area where the local community of multiple denominations live side by side.
In the afternoon the Grand Chancellor visited the Agro-humanitarian Center in West Beqaa and took part at the Interfaith blessing of the new Composting units, with the Minister of Agriculture of Lebanon Nizar Hani. Hani emphasized the importance of providing adequate seedlings to farmers “as it is a daily challenge they face” and congratulated with “the Order of Malta Lebanon’s Agro-humanitarian Center for their services in this arena”, stressing “the eco-friendly compost that would replace chemicals in the agricultural soil.”
Speaking to the representatives of different religious communities, the Grand Chancellor underscored that “agriculture plays a fundamental role in the communites’ life. Therefore, supporting this innovative project allows the Order of Malta to address multiple humanitarian concerns: food insecurity, poverty, environmental degradation and social exclusion. As I had the opportunity to see with my own eyes in these days, the Order of Malta in Lebanon is very committed in the health and social sectors. The interfaith prayer we had is a testimony that Lebanon is a great country and everyone, regardless of their beliefs, must work together. I personally assure you, on behalf of the Order of Malta, that we are at your side in this process of recovery and towards peace.”
President of the Lebanese Association of the Order of Malta Marwan Sehnaoui noted that “the Order of Malta’s steadfast commitment to defending the principles of dignity, hope, coexistence, and compassion has guided its actions to expand its scope beyond healthcare and social, to venture into agriculture. We wanted to provide sustainable programs that would assist all farmers in being rooted in their lands.”
