The President of the Maronite General Council, former Minister Wadie Khazen, hosted a luncheon in honor of awarding the Council’s Gold Medal to the Directors of Geitaoui Hospital, Sister Hadia Abi Chebli and Professor Pierre Yared. The event took place at Le Maillon restaurant in Achrafieh, under the patronage of the Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi, represented by the Maronite Archbishop of Beirut, Bishop Paul Matar.  

The ceremony was attended by representatives of the President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, Minister of Energy Cesar Abi Khalil; the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, MP Nehme Tohme; and Prime Minister Saad Hariri, MP Atef Majdalani. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Ghassan Hasbani, along with Ministers Avedis Kidanian, Ghattas Khoury, Nicolas Tueni, Michel Pharaon, and Jean Oghassabian.  

Additionally, the event saw the participation of Papal Ambassador Gabriel Caccia and the chargé d'affaires of the embassy, Ivan Santos; MPs Ghassan Moukheiber, Farid Khazen, Serge Tor Sarkissian, Sami Gemayel, and Fouad Saad; Representative of the leader of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, former Minister Joe Sarkis; and former Ministers Ziad Baroud, Sejaan Azzi, and Edmond Rizk.  

Military and security officials also attended, including representatives of the Army Commander, Brigadier General Abdo Sakr; Director General of State Security, Brigadier General Bassam Abi Farah; Director General of General Security, Colonel Elie El Deek; Director General of Internal Security Forces, Brigadier General Marwan Sleilati; Director of Intelligence, Colonel Rukn Gabi Habib; Head of the Intelligence Branch in Mount Lebanon, Brigadier General Clemont Saad; and Commander of the Gendarmerie, Brigadier General Joseph El Helou.  

Among the attendees were also the wife of the Army Commander, Mrs. Nehmat Aoun; Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Walid Ammar; Director General of Electricité du Liban, Kamal Hayek; Government Commissioner to the Military Court, Judge Sakr Sakr; Public Prosecutor of Cassation, Samir Hammoud; former Military Investigating Judge, Rachid Mazhar; Public Prosecutor of Mount Lebanon, Claude Karam; President of the Bar Association, Antonio Hashem; President of the Order of Engineers, Jad Tabet; President of the Press Syndicate, Aouni Kaaki; and President of the Editors’ Syndicate, Elias Aoun.  

Also present were the Media Office Director of the Presidency, Rafik Shalala; National Media Council Member, Fouad Daaboul; Senior Editor of "Al-Liwaa" newspaper, Salah Salam; President of the Syriac League, Habib Afram; Chairman of Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water Authority, Engineer Joseph Nasr; Mayor of Beirut, Jamal Itani; Advisor to the Minister of Social Affairs, Zahi Al Haiba; President of the Patriarch Sfeir Foundation, Dr. Elias Sfeir; Mrs. Hiam Bastani from the Maronite Diaspora Foundation; and Colonel Jihad Khazen.  

Several religious figures attended, including Bishop George Asadourian; Abbot Maroun Chidiac; Father Michel Abu Taqa, representing Abbot Nehmatallah Hashem; Secretary-General of Catholic Schools, Father Boutros Azar; Bishop Youssef Bechara; Father Salim Daccache; Director General of the Catholic Media Center, Abdo Abu Kasem; Mother Superior Marie Antoinette Saadeh; Monsignor Zahir Abi Rached; and other distinguished personalities.  

Bishop Matar  

After the national anthem and a welcoming speech by the Executive Board Member of the Maronite General Council, Lawyer Michel Matta, Bishop Matar delivered a speech in which he said: "The words today are not mine, but for those being honored. We congratulate them and ourselves, as every day, the Lebanese prove that they are capable of miracles, of self-achievement, and of elevating their institutions". 

He added: "Geitaoui Hospital is an institution that builds itself, and we congratulate Sister Hadia, Professor Yared, their assistants, and the past and present administration for their wise, firm, and forward-looking management. Geitaoui Hospital holds great value and works for the good of Lebanon".

Ambassador Caccia  

Ambassador Caccia also gave a speech expressing his pleasure in attending the ceremony before his departure to Rome. He praised the Maronite General Council for all its achievements and congratulated the honorees, encouraging them to continue their medical mission in the service of the people. He stated: "Lebanon is a message of freedom and an example of diversity".

Sister Abi Chebli  

Sister Hadia Abi Chebli then delivered a speech, saying: "With reliance on God and diligent work in developing the hospital, our mission was successful thanks to the leadership qualities, humanitarian spirit, and professionalism of Professor Pierre Yared. Receiving the Council’s Gold Medal is an honorary recognition for the institution we manage".

Professor Yared  

Professor Yared also spoke, affirming that "The success of Geitaoui Hospital would not have been possible without the support of the Patriarch and the Bishops".

He added: "Our ambitions are great, and the institution’s future is promising. I thank the event’s patron, Patriarch Al-Rahi, represented by Bishop Matar, and I especially thank Minister Khazen for initiating this honor, as his gesture stems from his patriotic and noble spirit".  

Minister Khazen  

Minister Khazen welcomed the attendees, thanking them for accepting the invitation. He emphasized that the event was of national significance, given its reflection of unity and cooperation in advancing the country's best interests, which President Aoun and Prime Ministers Berri and Hariri deeply value.  

He continued: "In times of international and regional conflicts that have fueled sectarian tensions, Lebanon has remained resilient and avoided direct involvement in these disputes. Thanks to our national army, which has fortified its borders and eliminated the threat of extremism, we have maintained security and stability".

Khazen highlighted the historical and humanitarian role of Geitaoui Hospital, founded in 1927 by Abbot Youssef Selwan with the support of notable figures, including Sheikh Hanna Khazen, Lawyer Massoud Massoud, and Sheikh Mohammad Al-Jisr. He praised the hospital’s open-door policy for all Lebanese, regardless of sectarian affiliation, and its commitment to training Lebanese University medical graduates.  

He further commended the dedicated efforts of Mother Superior Marie Antoinette Saadeh, Sister Hadia Abi Chebli, Professor Pierre Yared, and the hospital’s outstanding medical team. He acknowledged the hospital’s continuous technological advancements and expansions, expressing great pride in this national institution’s achievements.  

Finally, Minister Khazen, alongside Bishop Matar, Minister Hasbani, and Minister Abi Khalil, presented the Council’s Gold Medal to Sister Abi Chebli and Professor Yared in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the hospital’s medical and administrative teams.