Middle East Council of Churches General Secretariat Delegation

Visiting His Beatitude Patriarch Youssef Al-Absi in Rabweh

The General Secretariat delegation of the Middle East Council of Churches continues visiting heads of Churches in Lebanon. The team visited His Beatitude Youssef Al-Absi, Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church of Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem, at the Patriarchate headquarters in Rabweh, Lebanon. MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs headed the delegation that included the Associate General Secretary Father Dr. Nicolas Bustros, Lawyer Ibrahim Traboulsi, member of the Executive Committee and members of the General Secretariat team.

This visit’s purpose was to inform the heads of Churches of the latest developments of the MECC work and the ongoing projects. His Beatitude Patriarch Al-Absi praised the efforts that the Council is making to strengthen Ecumenical relations and pursue the humanitarian service amidst the tragic circumstances facing Lebanon and the Middle East. He also wished the Secretary General luck and success in every step he takes.

From his end, Dr. Abs presented a brief overview of the MECC most prominent achievements and expressed the enormous responsibility that falls on its shoulders in light of the deepening crises that Eastern citizens, in general, and Christians of the region, in particular, are facing. Dr. Abs spoke about his future aspirations, the projects planned to be implemented and the goals set to be achieved to consolidate the Council's Ecumenical and humanitarian mission. He praised the importance of Christian media today and the need to continue making efforts to preserve human dignity.

The meeting discussed issues related to the Christians presence in the Middle East and their urgent needs, as well as different ongoing problems of the region.