Actually, it is not quite correct to say that the election of an Eastern Catholic patriarch is "confirmed." Rather, a newly elected Eastern Catholic patriarch asks for and receives "ecclesiastical communion" from the Pope. CCEO can. 76 § 2. As you can see from the example of the Syrian Catholic Patriarch, this usually happens within days. In the case of the new Maronite Patriarch, it may take until the weekend since Pope Benedict XVI is on retreat until Saturday.

Egads! Is this the first clean-shaven Eastern Catholic patriarch in history perhaps?

Many years to Patriarch Bechara Rai!




The previous Chaldean Patriarch Mar Raphael I Bidawid was clean-shaven too - http://www.aina.org/images/raphael2.jpg

Catholic News Service has a very good article about the new patriarch here: "Maronites elect patriarch expected to unite Catholics, speak truth."

h/t Luke Coppen

As I previously noted, newly elected Eastern Catholic Patriarchs need no confirmation from the Pope.

In the case of the election of the Syrian Catholic Patriarch, the Synod of Bishops was convoked and held in Rome at the Vatican.

Upon his election on January 20, 2009, he immediately requested ecclesiastical communion from Pope Benedict XVI, who granted it on January 22, 2009 in writing, accompanied with his congratulations!

Amado

It will be interesting to see whether he can or tries to unite the 2 political factions among the faithful of his Church - not a spiritual issue, but a very contentious one among the Maronites presently, both in the Old Country and among recent immigrants from there.

Many years,

Neil

Over the past couple days, I've seen a number of interviews (both broadcast and in print) with "people in the street" and there is a common theme: inevitably, Mar Bishara is described as one who, although it may not be to certain people's taste, has always "spoken the truth" and, from my experience, that is quite true.

It was interesting that he had a closed-door tête-à-tête for about half an hour yesterday with the "leader" of the Orange faction, from which (uncharacteristically for the Maronites ) not one word leaked! Nor was there a published post-meeting photo (at least not one that I've seen).

Now we have to wait to see the shape of the new Patriarchial Curia. That will, I think, be very telling.

In case anyone is interested, Mar Beshara will, as noted earlier, be formally enthroned 25 March. This will be at 10h30 (Beirut standard time), 04h30 EDT. I'm under the impression that the ceremony will be broadcast on Télé-Lumière-Noursat, but their website seems to be experiencing the proverbial "technical difficulties," so I've been unable to verify.

FYI, it looks like I was mistaken about the timing. It will be at 17h00 local. According to what was broadcast on Télé-Lumière-Noursat, it will be carried live starting at 12n00 EDT.

malphono,

Thanks for the broadcast data - hopefully, someone will pick up Tele-Lumiere's feed.

Sam,

Off-topic, but just noticed that you posted to the thread. First time we've heard from you in a long while. Good to see and hope you're well, my Melkite brother.

Many years,

Neil

It was announced today that Pope Benedict XVI has granted ecclesiastical communion to Patriarch Béchara Boutros Raï in a letter dated March 24, 2011.

For those who read French, here is the text of the Pope's letter.

Video from the inauguration ceremony:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ5Ntj9WnMc



Videos of the Patriarchal speech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPIJEcVkHK0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtnE_lUZWWk



Interesting Patriarch Rai was wearing red hood:
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/04crf2wb5Tfga/610x.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0d6P0U72nU43I/x610.jpg

Gallery with lots of pictures:

http://syrcata.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4694&lang=ara