In 2019, most Lebanese dioceses saw their money in the banking system vanish overnight, making it difficult for them to afford to pay for the tuition and formation of their seminarians.

The drastic lack of resources is evident as soon as one sees the overcrowded cells, which have neither electric light nor windows. More than 300 inmates must sleep huddled together on the iron sheets of the bunk beds or on the bare floor.

The threat is omnipresent, to the extent that “on Sundays and feast days the churches have to be guarded by police, military or volunteers so that we can pray and celebrate Holy Mass in peace."

“I have seen so many Catholics fall away from the Church due to lack of personal contact. We must go out to meet them."

They were travelling together April 22, 2013, when their vehicle was stopped by suspected islamist militants. Their driver, a Syriac Orthodox deacon, was shot and killed on the spot, but the two hierarchs were taken and have not been heard from since.

"During the call I could hear the shooting in the background. He says that the streets are empty, like in a ghost town: there are no cars moving about, you can’t see anyone or hear any voices in the neighborhood."