A new era dawned for Islamic-Christian relations, ushered in by the civilized and humane meeting held by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and the Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rai in Riyadh.
The meeting between King and the Patriarch on November 14, 2017, was a historical event as the two exchanged greetings with remarkable warmth. King Salman shook hands with every single delegate accompanying Father al-Rai in a show of respect and joy.
“Masirat Hiwar Waietidal” (A Stride through Dialogue, Moderation: The Relationship of the Maronite Patriarchate with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) is a book that documents this momentous meeting and is authored by Father Antoine Daou.
Upon welcoming al-Rai and his accompanying delegation, King Salman thanked the Patriarch for taking up the Kingdom’s invitation, saying that Saudi Arabia was the Kingdom of all the Lebanese people.
“We have all respect, appreciation, and love for Lebanon and all the Lebanese, and we consider them our people. As we know and feel the love of the Lebanese for the Kingdom and its people,” King Salman told Al-Rai.
“We asked you, Your Beatitude, to visit the Kingdom because you are an excellent Lebanese, Arab, and international figure,” the King added, noting that Al-Rai played a leading role in strengthening Islamic-Christian relations and promoting dialogue between civilizations and cultures.
For his part, Al-Rai acknowledged the significance of the invitation to the Kingdom known as the “cradle of Islam” and the “Qibla of Muslims.”
“This meeting is an invitation for Muslims and Christians around the whole world (to get to know each other) …. and to love each other,” Al-Rai told King Salman.
According to Daou, the whole visit was prepared in less than two weeks with all its details and programs.
It was made possible thanks to “unremitting and distinguished efforts and tireless around-the-clock coordination between the episcopal see of Maronite Patriarchate, known as Bkerki, the Saudi Royal Court and the Saudi embassy in Lebanon.”
