The uprising of Lebanon: Testimony of Fr. Rabih el-Hourani, S.J

The October 17, 2019 revolution in Lebanon was a profound experience for me, filled with enthusiasm, contradictions, personal challenges, and deep wounds. From the very first days, I was swept up by the momentum of Lebanese youth dreaming of a better country, free from corruption and systemic injustices. Their energy, determination, and hope were contagious, and I felt immense joy in being among them, sharing their struggle, and marching alongside them in the streets of Beirut and other cities.

However, this commitment quickly gave rise to a painful contradiction within me. My work at the college imposed responsibilities that sometimes seemed incompatible with my presence on the ground. On certain days, especially during crucial moments of the uprising, it was difficult for me to choose between my educational mission and my place within the movement. How could I reconcile guiding young people in their intellectual and human development with the need to respond to their thirst for change in the streets? This tension haunted me daily, forcing me into difficult and often frustrating choices.

To this duality was added a personal tragedy: my aunt, in the terminal stage of cancer, was battling her illness. Between the protests and time spent on the roads, I was confronted with another essential presence—the one with my family. Should I be by my aunt’s side in her final moments, or should I answer the call of the revolution? This question tore me apart internally, as every absence weighed on me, whether it was from my loved ones or from the young revolutionaries.

Within the Jesuit province, the revolution also revealed deep tensions. While some confreres shared my commitment and actively participated in the demonstrations, others opposed it, seeing the movement as utopian or doomed to failure. The lack of communication among us often exacerbated these differences, making the situation even more difficult to manage. Yet, I also found strong support among the engaged Jesuits with whom I worked closely. Together, we sought to give meaning to our presence in the revolution, to accompany the youth, and to root our action in a vision of justice and hope.

But every revolution has its cost. Over the months, both physical and moral wounds accumulated. I experienced the violence of clashes, the exhaustion of long days of mobilization, and, above all, the pain of seeing this collective dream fade under the weight of divisions, repression, and the gradual return to the pain of seeing this collective dream fade under the weight of divisions, repression, and the gradual return to the established order. The enthusiasm of the early days gave way to disillusionment, frustration, and deep sadness. The October 17, 2019 revolution was an intense human adventure, where hope and suffering intertwined. Despite the wounds, it remains etched within me as a moment of truth, a shared quest for a better future for Lebanon.

Rabih el-Hourani, S.J.