On the morning of Friday, July 24, 2026, His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Paul III Nona, Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and throughout the world, paid an official visit to His Excellency President General Joseph Aoun at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. At the outset of the meeting, President Aoun congratulated Patriarch Nona on his election and enthronement as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church, praising the pivotal role of Christians in the Middle East and emphasizing the importance of Christian-Muslim coexistence. He also noted that the emigration of Christians as a result of wars has contributed to a decline in moderation across the region. Patriarch Nona thanked the President for his warm welcome and highlighted the situation of Iraqi Christian refugees in Lebanon, stressing the need to support them while safeguarding their dignity and fundamental human rights. He further affirmed that Lebanon’s stability is essential to the stability of the entire region, describing the country as “our strategic depth.” The Patriarch was accompanied by Bishop Michel Kassarji, Bishop of the Chaldean Diocese of Beirut, Chorbishop Raphael Trabelsi, Fathers Nabil Al-Danno and Karam, Mr. Antoine Hakim, President of the Supreme Council of the Chaldean Community, and Mr. Vincent Zarifa, President of the Chaldean Charitable Association.
العربية