On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, H.E. Youssef Antoine Soueif, the Maronite Archbishop of Tripoli, visited Notre Dame University-Louaize’s (NDU) North Lebanon Campus (NLC), where he delivered a lecture titled “The Challenges of Faith in the Modern World” in the presence of professors, staff, and students. The lecture commenced with a welcoming speech by Father François Akl, NLC Campus Director, who articulated, "In a world caught between war monsters thirsty for blood and peacemakers who still believe that love is stronger than death; In a world where rapid technological development, unlimited social communication, and astonishing artificial intelligence emerge, the challenges to faith have intensified. We are eager to hear His Excellency’s words, hoping they will dispel our concerns, allay our fears, and reaffirm that faith remains virtuous and strong, capable of overcoming doubt, individualism, rebellion, fanaticism, atheism, agnosticism, and indifference."
Subsequently, H.E. Bishop Soueif delivered his lecture on the meaning of faith and its challenges, discussing the apostles who were drawn to the words of the Lord and His signs but found themselves torn between the realities of Earth and Heaven. They began to pray, entreating the Lord to bolster their faith as it began to falter. Thus, the subject of faith emerges as broad, profound, and indispensable in a world that is advancing on one front while deteriorating on the other. H.E. Soueif further expounded, stating, “We implore the Lord to fortify our faith because faith is an individual's trust in the Lord, and those who believe in the Lord embrace God’s love, family, and unity. Communion, partnership, and message are pivotal in the Synodos.”
The session concluded with a discussion featuring numerous questions and interventions, enriching the lecture's content with a profound sense of faith and cultural resonance. The spiritual and theological depth conveyed by His Excellency Bishop Soueif further heightened the discourse's significance, providing attendees with a deeper understanding of the subject matter.