"At such a painful time for your country and the Lebanese people, on behalf of the French Bishops I wish to reassure you of our fraternal affection and sympathy". This is the beginning of the message which cardinal Jean Pierre Ricard, archbishop of Bordeaux and president of the French Bishops Conference (Cef), sent to the patriarchs and bishops of the Catholic communities of Lebanon yesterday. "We pray writes card. Ricard so that an end may be put to violence against the innocent populations, a violence that also tends to paralyse the country and destroy its economy, staking a long-term claim on its development and the welfare of all its citizens, who have the inalienable right to live in peace on their land". "We ask the Lord adds the president of Cef to assist your communities so that they may provide a testimony of faithfulness in this ordeal and may be the sources of peace and fraternity between the devotees of every religion. May all men of good will join forces to put an end to this blind and foolish violence, which can never solve any conflicts. May all Lebanese prove that only dialogue and a helping hand can open the future and be signs of hope. Thus, they will say that every human being, no matter its origin and faith, is infinitely worthy of respect and has rights that cannot be offended, including the right to security and peace".
