Craig Laundy (Reid, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to welcome to Australia His Beatitude and Eminence Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Rai, the 77th Maronite Patriarch of Antioch. His Beatitude has travelled to Australia to share his message of peace and unity, and I would like to welcome him on behalf of not only the Maronites in the electorate of Reid but all in Reid, as a fellow Catholic, especially.

The Maronites are the largest Christian sect in Lebanon, representing around a fifth of the population. Maronite Christians are also the largest component of the Australian Lebanese community. His Beatitude's reputation for engagement across various sects and faiths is well known around the world, and his teachings of tolerance are timely in Australia.

In particular I note that a multifaith meeting was held earlier this week where His Beatitude and his delegation met with the Grand Mufti of Australia and other Islamic leaders for a multifaith meeting, in which they prayed together for peace in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Palestine, and in all countries in the Middle East.

I am proud to represent an amazing Maronite community in Reid that gathers and congregates at the amazing Saint Joseph's Maronite Catholic Church, under the guidance of the parish council led by Charlie Sara, Anthony Bazouni, Joe Kizana, Robert Saade, Gihad Bechara, Roland Mechaalani, Wade Ayoub, Joe Budwee, Ibrahim Ibrahim, Lottie Moussa, Ben Saade, Joseph Tannous, Peter Mouwad and Sid Nicholas. They are amazing people and I hope the Beatitude's visit is a most worthwhile one.

See this speech in context