Lebanese Christians are assessing the impact of the new presidency six months after the election. The article likely explores the political and social changes affecting the Christian community. It may discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by Christians under the new leadership. The piece could analyze the relationship between the presidency and various Christian factions.
5 months ago
Six months after Joseph Aoun's election ended a 14-month presidential deadlock in Lebanon, Lebanese Christians are taking stock of his leadership 1. Aoun, an army commander backed by international powers, was cautiously welcomed by Christian communities 1. His inaugural speech in January 2025 raised expectations with promises to address critical issues, including Hezbollah's weapons and the refugee crisis 1.
The presidency, constitutionally reserved for a Maronite Christian, is seen by the Christian community as their highest political representation and a channel for national priorities 1. Mark Elian, a young Lebanese Catholic student, found Aoun's profile reassuring, particularly given his background from a southern village affected by a Palestinian massacre, which Elian believes gives him insight into the need to disarm refugee camps 1. Elian credits Aoun with achievements such as renewing international ties, organizing municipal elections, and facilitating government formation 1. However, Elian notes that Aoun has yet to deliver on key promises like establishing a state monopoly on weapons, achieving full Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon, and restructuring the banking sector to address trapped savings 1.
Joy Lahoud, a Lebanese lawyer, holds a more skeptical view, seeing Aoun's promising inaugural speech as part of a recurring pattern in Lebanese politics where high expectations rarely translate into action due to the president's limited constitutional powers 1. Despite this, Lahoud believes Aoun has a historic opportunity to enact substantial changes, emphasizing the need to end the influence of militias and mercenaries from the administration 1. He views the recent announcement by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam about dismantling Hezbollah positions with cautious realism, stressing that more needs to be done regarding light weapons and militiamen operating under civilian cover 1.
A central challenge is the state's monopoly on arms, particularly concerning Hezbollah and Palestinian refugee camps 1. Lahoud highlights that while the Palestinian president reportedly agreed with Aoun on the irrelevance of weapons in the camps, no material progress has been observed, advocating for gradual but concrete steps by the Lebanese army to take over security in these areas 1. The banking crisis, which has trapped citizens' savings since 2019, remains a deep wound; while Aoun's government has made some moves like amending banking secrecy laws and appointing a new central bank governor, comprehensive restructuring is still elusive 1.
Beyond security and financial issues, Lahoud stresses the importance of prioritizing the Christian presence in Lebanon, including ensuring the diaspora's role in elections and preventing the erosion of Christian representation in state institutions 1. He believes that true breakthrough requires deep constitutional reform and a move towards a federal system to end centralized government's totalitarian rule 1.
Father Dany Dergham, a Maronite priest, emphasizes President Aoun's deep ties to the Maronite Church and Bkerké, the episcopal see 1 4. He notes that Aoun's Christian identity is deeply rooted and that his vision aligns with national principles, state sovereignty, justice, and equality among all communities 1 4.
However, Father Dergham cautions against placing excessive hope or blame on the president, acknowledging that the Lebanese president's powers are limited, "virtually nonexistent" 1 4. He explains that many of the promises made in Aoun's speech require the cooperation of the government and parliament, which is rarely in full harmony 1 4. Dergham advises Aoun to consider resigning if the gap between his intentions and capabilities becomes too wide 1 4.
What is the Church's role in national governance?
The Catholic Church's role in national governance is primarily moral and spiritual, distinct from direct political involvement, yet it actively contributes to the common good by upholding human dignity and promoting justice .
The Church maintains a clear distinction and relative autonomy from the State . It is not identified with any political community or bound to any political system . The Church's mission is essentially spiritual and moral, not political, economic, or technical . It respects the specific area of responsibility of the State and does not interfere in the tasks of politicians or directly participate in the management of temporal affairs .
While distinct from political activity, the Church does make moral judgments on economic and social matters when the fundamental rights of the person or the salvation of souls require it . This involves shedding the light of the Gospel on earthly realities to heal miseries and elevate human dignity, thereby promoting justice and peace in society . The Church's concern with the temporal aspects of the common good is because these are ordered to the sovereign Good, which is humanity's ultimate end .
The Church encourages its lay members to take an active part in the management and orientation of temporal affairs according to evangelical principles . Christians are called to publicly profess their faith and be actively present in all areas of civil life . The Church sees its specific contribution as strengthening the spiritual and moral bases of society and assisting people in forming their consciences correctly .
The Church safeguards the transcendent value of the human person and seeks to ensure that earthly legislation guarantees all citizens the right to live in accordance with their consciences and the natural moral order . It condemns forms of deviation, slavery, and oppression, and opposes attempts to establish social life from which God is absent . The Church also reserves its freedom to ethically judge conditions that either promote the progress of individuals and communities or gravely harm personal rights, civil, and religious freedom .
The Church uses only those means that are in accord with the Gospel and the welfare of all people, adapting to diverse times and circumstances . It shuns all violent action, taking inspiration from the Gospel law of love and aiming to persuade through hope, recognizing that true progress comes from inner change rather than revolution . The Church does not place its trust in privileges offered by civil authority and may even forgo certain legitimately acquired rights if their use would compromise its witness .