Two Catholic bodies are urging Australians to express their solidarity for the people of Lebanon.

“You are not forgotten”, said the Australian Catholic Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service and Catholic Religious Australia in a joint statement.

The issue of further support for the people of Lebanon was raised on the floor of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference plenary meeting in Sydney last week by Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay OLM and Bishop Robert Rabbat.

“We are deeply saddened by the repeated reports of intense bombings in Lebanon,” said Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service chair, Bishop Vincent Long.

“Such attacks have resulted in many victims and widespread destruction.”

Catholic Religious Australia President, Br Gerard Brady, CFC, said the bombing and violence was affecting the most vulnerable victims – women and children.

“A peaceful solution has to be intentionally sought by our international community to prevent ongoing inter-generational trauma carried by all involved in this war,” he said.

“Let us act for peace.”

Pope John Paul II described Lebanon in 1989 as “more than a country – it is a message of freedom and an example of pluralism for the East as well as for the West”.

In 2020, Pope Francis described it as a “small yet great country”.

“But, even more, it is a universal message of peace and fraternity arising from the Middle East,” the Holy Father said.

In recent weeks, Pope Francis has made heartfelt appeals against the escalation of war in Lebanon, calling the volatile situation “unacceptable” and praying for all who are suffering from war.

Maronite Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay OLM and Melkite Bishop Robert Rabbat said a painful cross had been laid on the shoulders of the people of Lebanon.

“We cannot but feel their pain and suffering,” the bishops said.

“They need our prayers and humanitarian support.”

In response to a heartfelt plea for assistance by Bishop Tarabay and Bishop Rabbat, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in partnership with Catholic Religious Australia, Caritas Australia and Caritas Lebanon, has launched the Lebanon Appeal.

This appeal aims to provide essential humanitarian aid to our brothers and sisters suffering in Lebanon, especially those who are displaced and without homes or shelter.

Visit the website at www.caritas.org.au/lebanondonate

(Image: Sunset on the Mediterranean Sea, Pigeon Rocks, Beirut, Lebanon. Wikimedia Commons)