Most Palestinian Christians back Maronite patriarch's visit
Many Palestinian Christians support the visit to the Holy Land by Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai, although the PFLP, the Boycott movement and others have criticized it
RAMALLAH, West Bank — The controversy is increasing among Palestinians regarding the visit to Palestine by the head of the Maronite community in Lebanon, Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai, as he accompanies Pope Francis in a visit scheduled for May 25.
Although Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Presidential Higher Committee for Church Affairs welcomed Rai’s visit, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine called on the patriarch to reverse his decision and not accompany the pope, as his visit could result in political exploitation and normalization.
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal said that the big picture is the visit of the pope to the Holy Land. The pope will be accompanied by four patriarchs from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.
Twal told Al-Monitor on the sidelines of a news conference May 18: “I don’t see the need for all this fuss about Patriarch Rai’s visit, which doesn’t mean any kind of normalization [with Israel]. He is accompanying the pope, and he has a flock for which he’s responsible.”
