Dr. Daher Rahi with Patriarch Rai

DETROIT — Maronite Patriarch Bechara Peter Rai came to Detroit with a prayer for peace. He called on world powers to end the wars in the Middle East and demanded expatriates hold on to their homelands’ identities.

“We pray together for the Middle East, for its peace, for a permanent, overreaching, just peace,” Rai told worshippers at St. Maron Church in Detroit. “We pray to God to touch the conscience of all of those responsible for wars to stop them and find political solutions to conflicts.”

Rai described the refugee crisis as shame on the forehead of humanity.

“It is a shame that millions of innocents are thrown out of their homes… They get lost on the roads of the world, on the doors of embassies and borders of states.”

Rai cited Pope Francis when he referred to wars as arms’ trade.

“Enough blood, enough chaos, enough exploitation, enough arms’ trade,” Rai said.

Rai, the head of the Catholic Maronite Church, which is based in Bkerke, Lebanon, visited Detroit as a part of a U.S. tour. The mass in Detroit marked the 50th anniversary of St. Maron church.

In an interview after the services, the patriarch urged Arab Christians to conserve their Middle Eastern traditions and enrich American society with their values.

“Remain united and preserve your ties with your homelands,” Rai said, addressing Lebanese Americans. “Don’t forget that you have a civilization that you acquired from your original homes even if you were born here.”

He said his visit is to strengthen those bonds.

Rai also encouraged Middle Easterners in the diaspora to pass their native countries’ citizenships to their children.

“I ask them to be the voice of our nations here with American politicians and civic leaders,” he told The Arab American News. “Be the voice of Lebanon, of Syria, of Iraq. Be the voice that tells the reality of the matters because Americans get their information through the media. The media doesn’t always tell the truth.”

The wars in Syria and Iraq have ignited a global refugee crisis, with Lebanon hosting more than a million displaced people from Syria.

Rai said refugees have a right to return to their homes.

“World powers must respect the peoples of the region,” he added. “The decisions must be taken by the people, not imposed by foreign states.”

During a visit to Lebanon in 1997, Pope John Paul II said Lebanon is more than a country; “it’s a message.” The pontiff was referring to the coexistence between Christians and Muslims there.

Rai reiterated that notion, saying that Lebanon’s civil, non-theocratic government could be a model for other Arab countries.

“We can’t continue with having a religion for the state, with a religious text as the source of legislation,” he said. “We need to separate religion from the state while respecting all religions.”

Rai saluted Muslims around the world, wishing them a blessed Ramadan. He said the holy month is an opportunity to reaffirm the true values of the Quran and condemn terrorism committed in the name of Islam.

Multiple ISIS suicide bombers targeted the mostly Christian Lebanese village of Qaa, killing five, earlier this week. 

Asked if Lebanese Christians face a grave risk because of the rise of extremism, the patriarch said he fears for all people.

“We worry for everyone,” he said. “When we lose the Muslim and the Christian Lebanese, we lose everything. When we lose the Muslim and the Christian Syrian, the Muslim and the Christian Iraqi, the Muslim and the Christian Palestinian, we lose everything. There is an identity that we built together. There’s a civilization that we built together. We must protect each other.”

Worshippers, public officials and Arab American leaders of all religions attended the mass. The congregation joined the patriarch in prayers. One bishop asked God to help fill the presidency in Lebanon, which has been vacant since May 2014.

Led by Rai, priests recited verses from the Bible, switching seamlessly between Arabic, Aramaic and English. Worshippers chanted along harmoniously. 

Rai delivered a sermon on the virtues and sacrifices of Saints Paul and Peter, which made them pillars of the church.

Maronite patriarchs adopt the middle name Peter because the saint founded the patriarchy of Antioch.

Dr. Daher Rahi, a philanthropist and supporter of the church who is a cousin of the patriarch, announced the establishment of a $50,000 scholarship fund in Rai’s honor. He also donated another $50,000 for Rai to distribute to the needy who seek his help in Lebanon.

The patriarch brought the congregation to cheers when he promoted St. Maron’s pastor, Louis Baz, to a bishop.

Dr. Rahi heaped praise on Rai. He said as children, Rai would disappear for hours, prompting questions about his whereabouts.

“One time, we decided to follow you,” Rahi told the patriarch. “Where did we find you? We found you in the church, on the altar, praying.”

Rahi said the patriarch’s life has always been about education.

“You’ve reached the ultimate,” he said. “You became a priest, then you became a bishop, then you became the patriarch of all the Maronites, not only in Lebanon, but throughout the world.”

Rahi said his love for the patriarch exceeds all the love he has known.

“You are a gift to mankind,” Rahi told the patriarch. “There is no doubt in my heart about it, you are going to be— in my humble estimation— the next pope.”

The church erupted in applause.

Patriarch Rai promoted Father Baz to bishopt