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Pierre el-Rahi (Arabic: بيار الراعي, French: Pierre el-Raï; 1975 – 9 March 2026) was a Lebanese Maronite Catholic priest killed by Israeli tank fire during the 2026 Lebanon war.[1][2]

Biography

Born in 1975 in the village of Dibeh in northern Lebanon,[3] El-Rahi was originally from Debel in the south of Lebanon. He became curate of the Paroisse Saint-Georges in Al-Qlayaa in 2013, his ministry located in the Marjayoun District, just north of the Israeli border.[4] In December 2023, he appeared in the press urging Christian residents of Al-Qlayaa to continue celebrating Christmas in spite of the Hezbollah–Israel conflict.[5] In October 2024, he defended the rights of residents to remain on their own land amidst evacuation orders, citing the village’s attempt to avoid any form of armed conflict.[6][7] The following month, he continued to encourage residents to stay home despite the approaching warfare.[8] In early March 2025, he received a delegation from the Kataeb Party, which met with several officials in southern Lebanese villages.[9] On 20 October 2025, he was received at Baabda Palace by President Joseph Aoun, discussing religious issues and the safety of the people of Al-Qlayaa.[10]

Death

Main article: Killing of Pierre al-Rahi

On 9 March 2026, el-Rahi rushed to a family’s house in Al-Qlayaa to render aid, when he himself was fatally struck by a second shelling.[11] His death was denounced by the Lebanese Forces as a casualty of a war “imported into Lebanon and Qlayaa” and “waged by outlaws”.[12]

References

  1. ^ Gavlak, Dale (9 March 2026). “Lebanese Maronite Catholic Priest Killed by Israeli Tank Fire in Southern Lebanon”. OSV News.
  2. ^ Aquilino, Giada (9 March 2026). “Bombardements au Liban, le père Pierre El Raii tué”. Vatican News. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  3. ^ López Marina, Diego (13 March 2026). “Who was Father Pierre al-Rahi, the Maronite priest who died helping the wounded in Lebanon?”. EWTN UK. EWTN. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  4. ^ Jova, Pierre (10 March 2026). “Mort du prêtre Pierre el-Raï au Liban : une blessure infligée à tout le pays”. La Vie (in French). Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  5. ^ “War dampens Christmas spirit in southern Lebanon”. Arab News. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  6. ^ “Dans le sud du Liban bombardé, la grande peur des villages chrétiens”. Courrier International (in French). 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  7. ^ Kahil, Katia (6 October 2024). “À Klayaa, Rmeich et Marjeyoun, un même cri: mourir dignement plutôt que de survivre dans la rue”. Ici Beyrouth (in French). Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  8. ^ Kahil, Katia (23 November 2024). “À Deir Mimas, la peur n’a pas tué l’espoir”. Ici Beyrouth (in French). Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  9. ^ “Au sud, les Kataëb réaffirment leur soutien aux habitants de Marjayoun et Hasbaya”. Ici Beyrouth (in French). 3 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  10. ^ “Aoun reçoit le curé de la paroisse de Saint-Georges de Qlayaa”. Ministry of Information (in French). 10 October 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  11. ^ “Le curé de la paroisse de Qlayaa, au Liban-Sud, tué par un tir d’artillerie israélien”. L’Orient–Le Jour (in French). 9 March 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  12. ^ “Le pape exprime sa « profonde douleur » pour les victimes au Moyen-Orient, dont le curé de Qlayaa”. L’Orient–Le Jour (in French). 10 March 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.