Lebanon’s Tragedy, Lebanon’s Hopes: An Update on Beirut from Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï

The enormous explosion that rocked Beirut on Aug. 4 killed roughly 200 people, injured thousands, and left at least 300,000 homeless. The blast, from a huge and unstable stockpile of ammonium nitrate stored at the Lebanese port, was a devastating blow for a country already teetering from a financial collapse and social unrest.

Lebanon’s viability is critical to the Middle East, a region fraught with geopolitical tensions. It is a region that can also provide a sign of hope. Lebanon is the most religiously diverse country in the Middle East, with a large Christian community, and Shia and Sunni Muslims making up more than half of the population.

In this webinar, we will speak live with the Maronite Catholic Patriarch in Lebanon. Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï will talk about the situation in the country a month after the explosion, what can be done to help now, and what Lebanon needs to do to secure its future — and the future of the Middle East.

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, chairman of the board of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, will open the conversation. Thomas L. Gallagher, president of Religion Media Company, will lead a Q&A, including questions submitted by audience members, with Cardinal Rai. David Gibson, director of Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture, will moderate the discussion.

This webinar is presented in partnership with the Catholic Near East Welfare Association and Salt + Light Media.