He has already been nominated to Sakharov Prize three times by the Italian and Spanish Members of Parliament. His devotion of many years’ standing in working with Palestinian refugees in Beirut, and particularly his care for the Christians living in camps in the suburbs of Beirut has made a great impression on deputies in the time when egoism destroys our sympathy for others. For a few years, the Parliament looks carefully at F. Paul Bielecki’s work, who dedicates himself for the needing within Franciscans International structures. However, we truly regret that F. Paul has been rejecting the acceptance of the Sakharov Prize three times already justifying that he did not want to give low-key publicity as one always must stand at the man in silence as he wrote to us in 2004.
F. Paul Bielecki, a franciscan friar and doctor, is following humanitarian crisis in Syria and Lebanon where there has been an influx of more than 1.5 million Christian refugees from Syria and Iraq. “This number represents one refugee for every three people already in Lebanon,” says Father Paul. “International organizations and local government officials describe the impact of the refugee crisis on the country as ‘disastrous’ because of fierce competition for jobs, inflation of food prices and rental costs, a slowing economy and growing needs that have overwhelmed social services, infrastructure and government resources.”
Now, Father Paul has launched artwork campaign to raise funds to help Christians from Syria and Iraq and ease the burden on the people of Lebanon. These Christians must be relocated to new countries where they can find jobs and homes and restart their lives, which have been disrupted by war and violence. With his help, these families are able to have the opportunity for a second chance at a “normal” life.
Agora Gallery will held the event in New York.