Cardinal Michael Czerny on pastoral visit to Lebanon

From February 19 to 23, 2025

Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development (DPIHD), made a pastoral visit to Lebanon from February 19-23, 2025.

Cardinal Czerny accepted the invitation to visit following the conclusion of the plenary assembly of the Patriarchs and Catholic Bishops of Lebanon (APECL), which took place from February 17 to 20.

Among the activities scheduled for his visit, the Prefect prayed at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa and visited the tombs of Jesuit Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach in Jamhour and St. Charbel in Annaya, where he received a relic of the Lebanese saint as a gift from the monks.

During his visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, Cardinal Czerny entrusted the country to Our Lady and prayed for peace in the Middle East. He later met with and conversed with the Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Lebanon (APECL).

In addition, the Prefect of DPIHD engaged in discussions with 30 Catholic organizations. He also met with young people participating in peacebuilding training through the Leadership Academy for Peace (LAP) and active citizenship education through the Christian Leadership Formation (CLeF).

There were also interreligious meetings, including a visit to the Mufti of Dar Al Fatwa in Tripoli, where cooperation with the local Church is fostered. This marked the first time a Cardinal had met with the Mufti in this venue. At the conclusion of their conversation, the Prefect remarked: “His profound teaching on fraternity is something we experienced here today. That is precisely how we can move forward together — by learning to live together as brothers and sisters.”

Following this, he visited Saydet al Hara School, the FORSA project (carried out in collaboration with Oum el Nour - OEN), and Al Manhaj, an area known as the "Mediterranean favelas."

Subsequently, the DPIHD Prefect met with migrants, internally displaced people, and refugees supported by Caritas and the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). During this visit, he went to the Kfardlakos refugee camp in Tripoli with Caritas, where he met with Syrian refugee families. He also visited the village of Alma El Chaab and the Medical Center of Tyre.

In Beirut, he met with migrants who receive assistance from JRS Lebanon at the Migrant Center. During the meeting, they discussed the challenges faced by migrant workers in Lebanon and the role of the Catholic Church in assisting them, particularly through the provision of shelter and food to people displaced in the aftermath of the war. The efforts being made by the community to support displaced persons, especially migrant workers, were also highlighted. Finally, some attendees shared their experiences and emphasized the importance of cricket as a community activity, as well as the self-reliance of the community in meeting the needs of its members.

For his part, Cardinal Michael Czerny expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to listen and learn from the different situations shared by the community. He pointed out the importance of unity despite their differences, as the Holy Father asks. The Prefect also encouraged the community to share their stories with others, stressing the importance of spreading the good news and concluded by wishing everyone all the best.

Finally, Cardinal Czerny prayed at the Port of Beirut, in remembrance of the devastating explosion of August 4, 2020, which caused numerous deaths and injuries. He met some of the victims' relatives. On this occasion, Pope Francis expressed: “Let us pray for the victims and their families; and let us pray for Lebanon, that, with the commitment of all its social, political, and religious components, it may face this tragic and painful moment, and, with the help of the international community, overcome the serious crisis it is going through.” Furthermore, in 2024, Pope Francis met with the families of the victims of this tragic incident at the Vatican.