They have just elected a new patriarch: Bechara El Rai which translates as Annunciation and the Shepherd.
On the day of his election, he addressed the Maronites with these words:
"We shall live together this “communion in love”, in Lebanon whose “glory is in its mission”. The saying “the glory of Lebanon was given to him”(Isaiah 2: 35) has been applied to the Maronite Patriarch, and was taken from the prophecy of Isaiah 2:35. However, it is given to him and to his Church only in as much as we engage in the building up of communion and witness to love. The glory of Lebanon however, is damaged when we shut ourselves off to others or close in upon ourselves. However, it develops and rises when are open to the other, to this East and to the world. “This glory” is given to Lebanon and to its people “if we are all for the homeland” as we sing in our National anthem. This homeland is not for one community, party or group alone, it should not be monopolized by any, because being monopolized by a group is a humiliation to all and a loss to “this glory” whose greatness is in the diversity of its spiritual families and their richness. I do not say in the “diversity of its confessions” for they have all been tainted by political and partisan colors which have stripped them of their sanctity, the purity of their faith and the spirituality of their religion. As lamented by the son of the cedars, Gebran Khalil Gebran: “Woe to a nation with too many confessions but little faith”.(New elected Patriarch Bechara Rahi- March 25, 2011)
It is now a time for faith and prayer. May our Lord bless the ministry of Mar Bechara Peter Rai.