Archbishop Mirosław Stanisław Wachowski, vice president of the Pontifical Secretariat for Relations with States, called on the international community to defend the “independence, unity and territorial integrity” of Lebanon at an international conference on the crisis in Lebanon organized by the French government.
vatican city
France, Friday, October 25, 2024 (REI, Vatican Radio): At an international conference on the crisis in Lebanon organized by the Government of France, Archbishop Mirosław Stanisław Wachowski, vice president of the Pontifical Secretariat for Relations with States, appealed to the international community for Lebanon’s “freedom and unity” and has called for territorial integrity to be protected.
mandatory support
He said it was “imperative” that the international community support the country. Representatives from 70 nations of the world and the international community participate in this conference that began on Thursday.
Archbishop Wachowski said Lebanon has been hit by a serious economic crisis since Israeli forces invaded the southern part of the country in October. He said it is “imperative” that the international community addresses the crisis in the country, particularly by pushing for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts.
presidential vacancy
Drawing attention to the presidential vacancy in Lebanon, the archbishop stressed that Lebanon is an example of “harmonious coexistence” between its various religious communities and that, by most estimates, around a third of the Lebanese population is Christian. . In this sense, Archbishop Wachowski stated, the Holy See is concerned about the current lack of a president in Lebanon, a role that has always been played by a Maronite Catholic.
He said the political deadlock means the country has been without a president for almost two years. He stressed that “the appointment of a president is not just an option, but a necessity to protect the independence, unity and territorial integrity of Lebanon” and that it is a matter of “utmost urgency.”
respect for humanitarian law
Regarding the ongoing conflict in the south of the country, Archbishop Wachowski said the Holy See calls for the “highest respect” for international humanitarian law, including the protection of hospitals, clinics, schools, educational institutions and places of worship.
He also expressed the Holy See’s support for UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, which have been attacked several times by Israeli forces. Quoting Pope Francis, he said: “Lebanon and the Middle East will no longer be used for external interests and profits! “The Lebanese people will be given the opportunity to be protagonists of a better future on their own soil and without undue interference.” “You must go.”
