Cardinal Michael Czerny on pastoral visit to Lebanon

From February 19 to 23, 2025

The Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DPIHD), Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ, is on a pastoral visit to Lebanon from February 19 to 23, 2025.

Cardinal Czerny accepted the invitation to participate at the end of the plenary Assembly of the Patriarchs and Catholic Bishops of Lebanon (APECL), which will take place from February 17 to 20.

Among the activities planned for his pastoral visit, the Prefect prayed at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, 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, Card. Czerny entrusted the country to Our Lady and prayed for peace in the entire Middle East. Afterwards, the Prefect met and conversed with the Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Lebanon (APECL).

In addition, the Prefect of DSSUI held talks 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. Among them, he visited the Mufti of Dar Al Fatwa in Tripoli, as cooperation with the local Church is mutual. This was the first time a Cardinal met with him in this venue. At the end of the interview, the Prefect expressed: “his great teaching about fraternity is something that we experienced here today. And that is exactly how we can go forward together if we learn how to live together as brothers and sisters".

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

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Cardinal Czerny will also pause for prayer at the port of Beirut in memory of the tragic explosion of August 4, 2020, which caused numerous deaths and injuries. On that occasion, Pope Francis urged: “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.

Finally, the Prefect of DPIHD will meet with some migrants, internally displaced persons, and refugees assisted by Caritas and the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS).

17 February 2025

local churches

Lebanon

Czerny

23 February 2024

Cardinal Michael Czerny on pastoral visit to Lebanon

From February 19 to 23, 2025

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