Cardinal Bshara Butros al-Rai begins Latin American parish tour

Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bshara Butros Al-Rai, arrived in Argentina on Saturday, on a parish tour scheduled to include several Latin American countries, namely Brazil, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Colombia. In details, Patriarch Al-Rai will be paying visits to three Maronite parish dioceses, namely "Our Lady of Lebanon's Martyrs" in Mexico; "Our Lady of Lebanon" in Brazil and "Saint Charbel" in Argentina. Accompanying the Patriarch on his parish tour is General Patriarchal Deputy, Bishop Boulos Sayyah; as well as Bkirki's Media and Protocol Director, Walid Ghayyad. Greeting the Patriarch upon arrival at Buenos Aeries Airport was Argentinean Public Health Minister, Juan Mansour, who is of Lebanese origin; Papal Ambassador, Bishop Emile Paul Cherig; Lebanese Ambassador to Argentina, Antonio Indary; members of the Lebanese Embassy and a number of senior religious clerics. Al-Rai's first stop in the Argentinean Capital was at Saint Maroun's Church, where he presided over thanksgiving prayers. He then toured the various sections of the Maronite missionary school. It is to note that prior to his departure from France bound for Argentina, Al-Rai addressed a greeting to French President Francois Hollande, "who showed great concern and attention to details of the situation in Lebanon and the region," said Al-Rai. Al-Rai also extended warm greetings to French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who expressed his keen concern for preserving Lebanon's role in the region. Al-Rai also referred to the French diplomacy's concern for deep-rooting peace in the region. The Patriarch hoped that a new government will see the light very soon in Lebanon. He also hoped that the Lebanese would agree on a new electoral law, on the basis of which the parliamentary elections can be held. Al-Rai reiterated Lebanon's historical message to the world - a message of co-existence and of being a role model for both the East and West in this respect.