The Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Lebanon on Thursday welcomed the end of the country’s prolonged presidential vacancy with the election of General Joseph Aoun as President of the Republic and the appointment of Nawaf Salam as Prime Minister. Concluding their 57th annual session, the clerics emphasized that both leaders enjoy the trust of the Lebanese people and urged them to work closely with the new government and Parliament to implement critical reforms and rebuild state institutions.

In a statement issued at the end of their meeting, the Council underscored the urgency of engaging in a frank and transparent dialogue to pave the way for long-overdue national reconciliation. They praised the resilience and solidarity demonstrated by the Lebanese people during the recent war and called for a comprehensive reform plan to support the reconstruction of war-ravaged areas. Additionally, they highlighted the role of youth in shaping the country’s future and reaffirmed the importance of Lebanon’s neutrality in regional and international conflicts.

The Council commended President Aoun’s inaugural address and Prime Minister Salam’s remarks upon his appointment, particularly their shared commitment to Lebanon’s positive neutrality. The clerics stressed that neutrality is a fundamental pillar of Lebanon’s statehood and national pact, asserting that it does not contradict the country’s membership in the Arab League and the United Nations, both of which Lebanon was a founding member of. They urged the government to uphold and implement this principle in collaboration with Parliament.

Amid shifting political dynamics in the Middle East and beyond, the Council emphasized the need for the Church to stand with courage, humility, and determination before history, conscience, and God. They called on all Lebanese, regardless of religious affiliation, to take concrete steps toward national reconciliation through an honest process of memory purification. Such efforts, they noted, require self-reflection, accountability, repentance, and forgiveness. The Council stressed that these steps are crucial for fostering genuine dialogue and achieving long-overdue national unity.

The Council's meeting was chaired by Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi and attended by Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan of the Syriac Catholic Church, Patriarch Youssef Absi of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, and Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia. Also present were Catholic bishops, heads of religious orders, representatives of women’s religious congregations, and members of the Council’s General Secretariat.