Dear Bro. Francesco,
May the Lord give you his peace!
On behalf of the General Definitory and the entire Order, I wish to extend our prayers for, and solidarity with, the Friars and the people of Lebanon following the recent explosions that rocked the city of Beirut. The loss of innocent lives, the suffering of so many who have been injured, and the devastating destruction of property, which has left hundreds of thousands of people homeless risk creating a sense of hopelessness. The crisis of the new Coronavirus pandemic and the collapse of the political order heighten the anxiety and threaten to create a power vacuum that could lead to further suffering and uncertainty.
Please convey to our Franciscan brothers, the Christian communities they serve, the various leaders of the Christian churches, and other religious leaders with whom you are in contact, our sincere concern and our offer of prayer, that God might provide light, courage and strength to the people of Lebanon. Our greatest wish is that there might be a movement of solidarity among the nations so that necessary financial, logistical, and other support can be provided in a timely manner to assist the Lebanese people in this most difficult moment.
I also appeal to the Franciscan entities of the Order to provide financial assistance where possible, working closely with the Custody, as it serves those in greatest need.
Fraternally yours in Christ and St. Francis,
Bro. Michael A. Perry, OFM
Minister General and Servant
