A Christian–Islamic Encounter for Peace in Lebanon and the Region on the Occasion of the Feast of the Annunciation
At the Invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches and the Episcopal Committee for Christian–Muslim Dialogue in Lebanon
Words Emphasized Strengthening the Spirit of Faith and Human Fraternity Among the Lebanese
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)
On the occasion of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, and under the title “The Annunciation of Mary Brings Us Together... And Her Peace Unites Us,” the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Episcopal Committee for Christian–Muslim Dialogue, emanating from the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon, organized a Christian–Islamic Encounter for peace in Lebanon and the region. The event took place on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the hall of the Syriac Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Annunciation, Museum - Beirut.
Attendees were His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Archbishop Paolo Borgia; His Eminence Bishop Mar Matthias Charles Mrad, Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Beirut and Head of the Episcopal Committee for Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Lebanon; the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs; Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department; Father Movses Garen Yosolkanian, Coordinator of the MECC Eco-Justice Justice Unit; and Lawyer Professor Ibrahim Traboulsi, Member of the MECC Executive Committee. The Encounter also brought together Christian, Muslim, and Druze Spiritual Leaders, Religious, social, and cultural figures, educational and academic personalities, members of the Episcopal Committee for Christian–Muslim Dialogue, and some MECC colleagues.
At the beginning, the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs delivered a speech entitled “Mary’s Annunciation and the Unity of a Nation,” in which he noted that “Mary’s status is unmatched among peoples. She is the mother who embraced the incarnation of the Savior, cared for Him, raised Him, and prepared Him to fulfill the mission for which He became incarnate.”
He added: “The Lebanese, and this also applies to neighboring peoples, are in a constant search for what unites them and forms a shared space among their diverse components, in the face of all attempts at division and fragmentation that have targeted us for decades. Thus, the Lebanese found in Mary a unifying figure, and in the Feast of the Annunciation a space of harmony and concord.”
He continued: “Mary and her Annunciation are an element of unity among the Lebanese. We must live this Annunciation together and bear its fruits, so as to reduce the forbidden distances between the components of Lebanese society and, where such gaps exist, to fill them with love and harmony that affirm our unity since before recorded history, a unity that religious beliefs only strengthen.”
In turn, His Eminence Sheikh Bilal Al-Mulla delivered a speech saying: “In this small country Lebanon, circumstances have led to pass through this year amid some of its harshest security, political, and economic conditions, with divisions on all levels…”
He stressed that “the Feast of the Annunciation comes to reaffirm the importance of strengthening the spirit of faith and human fraternity among the Lebanese in order to overcome this great ordeal… That is why Mary, upon whom there is consensus, was chosen as a meeting point between Christians and Muslims.”
He pointed out that “we must realize that our fundamental mission is for Religion to be a factor of unity, love, and encounter, for Religion has come from heaven as a message from God to humanity…”
For his part, His Eminence Bishop Mar Matthias Charles Mrad addressed a Biblical Reflection, emphasizing that: “The Virgin Mary, whose Annunciation we celebrate today, teaches us a great Spiritual lesson. She is a woman of listening, a woman of trust in God, a woman of peace. Mary lived in a troubled time as well, yet she chose to say ‘yes’ to God, and from that small ‘yes’ was born the greatest story of hope in human history.”
He said: “Let us ask for her intercession today, we who are gathered under her care, that she may accompany our homeland Lebanon in this difficult phase, inspire our hearts with wisdom and love. Let us ask Mary, as she is honored by both Muslims and Christians, to be a guiding star on the path of dialogue and encounter.”
He added: “Let us make this gathering a sign of hope, and our shared cooperation a new step towards building a society marked by peace and justice. Let us always remember that God calls us all, whatever our Religions and traditions, to be peace makers and fraternity builders in a world that needs the light of love more than ever. May God protect Lebanon, bless its people, and grant our wounded East the grace of peace.”
Furthermore, His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Archbishop Paolo Borgia read the Prayer of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for peace.
The Encounter also included various Prayers and hymns, in addition readings of the Gospel text of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38) and the Qur’anic text of the Annunciation (Surah Maryam 16–21).
Moreover, there were readings from the words of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Ecumenical and interfaith meeting in Beirut (December 1, 2026), and from the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together (February 4), as well as youth Prayers.
It is worth noting that the Encounter included a video report entitled “Feast of the Annunciation 2026: In What State Have You Returned, O Feast?” produced by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).
