Patriarch Rai continues pastoral tour in Argentina

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai continued his visit to Argentina, where he delivered a speech on Wednesday evening before the council of Argentinian Archbishops, upon the call of the council’s head Archbishop José María Arancedo and in the presence of the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Emile Paul Sharig as well as the Argentinian current and former bishops.             

Rai’s speech tackled the situation of the Christians in the Middle East, as well as the challenges they face leading them to immigrate from the region, and the role of the Christian community in preserving the concepts of coexistence, dialogue and intercultural relations.             

On the other hand, Rai visited the Austral University in the region of Pilar Opus Dei, and then he visited the university hospital which employs around 3,000 physicians and employees.         

Separately, the Maronite Patriarch headed a mass at St. Maroun Cathedral with the participation of a number of bishops.             

Cardinal Rai then went to the city of Tucuman accompanied by his delegation and the bishops, then visited the Cathedral of Buenos Aires and met with the province governor Mauricio Macri.             

On Tuesday evening, the Lebanese ambassador to Buenos Aires Antonio Andari hosted a welcoming ceremony in honor of Cardinal Rai, in the presence of diplomatic and political officials as well as a delegation from the Lebanese community of Argentina.