The pope’s meeting with Najm and three other Lebanese priests came ahead of the Vatican’s day of prayer for Lebanon hosted by Pope Francis.
Pope Francis has invited the leaders of the main Christian communities in Lebanon to the Vatican on July 1 to “pray together for the gift of peace and stability.”
Archbishop Joseph Spiteri, the apostolic nuncio to Lebanon, has said that all the heads of the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christian communities in Lebanon have been invited to the prayer meeting, which will be presided over by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Several patriarchs are expected to attend the Vatican day of prayer, including Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, the leader of Maronite Catholics, and Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan, the Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch.
Lebanon has faced a financial and political crisis for months, as politicians have failed to form a government to implement reforms after the Beirut explosion.
The blast killed nearly 200 people, injured 600 others, and caused more than $4 billion in damage.
Before the explosion, the country was already facing severe economic pressure. Unemployment had soared and the national currency had lost at least 80% of its value against the U.S. dollar since 2019, according to AP.
“The Beirut explosion of the 4th of August took a lot from us, the buildings in the area were turned to rubble and our souls were left shattered, killing our last glimpse of hope for our beloved Lebanon,” Khoury said.
For the young artist, carving the crucifix for the pope provided the chance to express the hope that is found in Christ.
“It has been an honor for me to have been given this opportunity of a lifetime. I hope my message reaches you and I hope you find inspiration wherever you look, even if it’s in the darkest of places,” he said.––CNA
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