The Patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church, Ignatius Joseph III, expressed his condemnation and denunciation of the repeated aggressive acts that Lebanon has faced during the past week, the latest of which occurred on Friday. He particularly highlighted the catastrophe that befell the country, which resulted in the loss of several lives and caused many injuries, both severe and minor, due to the detonation of wireless devices, leading to significant death and destruction.
In a statement issued by the Secretariat of the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch on September 21, 2024, Patriarch Yonan prayed "to God for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives, for the comfort of their families and loved ones, and for the healing of the injured." He praised "the readiness and dedication shown by medical and health staff" and commended "the national solidarity demonstrated by everyone in response to these condemned attacks.
He raised his prayers "that God may enlighten the consciences of the officials in Lebanon and their sense of national responsibility, so that they may take heed and move to unite their ranks to lift this message-bearing nation out of its crises. He urged that the deputies fulfill their political and constitutional duties by electing a president for the republic immediately, and that political and party leaders unite their voices to defend Lebanon and restore it to its former state as an oasis of peace, security, and stability.
In conclusion, Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Yonan reiterated "the urgent call for an immediate halt to the ongoing war in Palestine and its repercussions on southern Lebanon, which results in bloodshed, especially among innocent and unarmed civilians, and for the establishment of peace and security in the Middle East and the world."