The issue of Christian presence in Lebanon is deeply rooted in the church's consciousness and is one of its main concerns. These concerns are ever-present in the corridors of the Maronite Patriarchate and in the words of its leader, Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi. Beyond the positions advocating for the preservation of Christian presence in the small nation, al-Rahi's voice resonates in conferences and meetings aimed at the same goal.

In this context, the Christian Coordination Council brought a basket of concerns and initiatives to a conference titled Strengthening Christian Presence in Lebanon," held at the patriarchal seat in Bkerke.

In his speech, al-Rahi said, "Each one of you represents great value, and this is a sign that the Christian Coordination Council will launch with greater strength. Lebanon does not die, and we are at the end of the road leading to salvation under the hidden hand of Our Lady of Lebanon and its saints. However, with this hidden hand, we also bear responsibility; if our Lord is with us and this nation, we must be for Him.

He added, "There is no fear, only trust, and this trust teaches us all to join hands and move forward; we have never lost trust because we are children of hope, but the opposite has happened among politicians." Al-Rahi concluded, "We look with the same trust to January 9th, the date of the presidential election session, and we have no doubt that a president will be elected in the new year, which His Holiness the Pope has declared a holy year.

For his part, the President of the Christian Coordination Council, Fouad Abu Nader, stated that "the council's goals are to restore hope in the Lebanese Christian community. It is a coalition of committed Lebanese Christians aiming to break the deadlock and open the blocked path resulting from Lebanon's financial collapse and the fragmentation threatening the active presence of Christians in the country, by implementing creative and practical initiatives, projects, strategies, and solutions.

He added, "There is no doubt - and the numbers prove it - that Lebanese Christians still hold the essential keys to the country: geographically, economically, socially, and culturally, to help maintain the Christian role in Lebanon with full freedom, equality, and dignity, and to establish Lebanon's role as a country of message and strong presence in the region."