France – Lebanon: a Presidential Meeting

From Lebanon to France: the Same Vincentian Vision

At the beginning of February 2026 in Paris, Naji Kaddoum, National President of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Lebanon, met with the French national team, particularly the National President, Serge Castillon.

The ties between the Land of the Cedars and France have been very strong for many years.
“France, a French-speaking country like Lebanon, is a bit like a second country for us,” emphasizes Naji Kaddoum.

Welcoming his Lebanese counterpart to the French association’s headquarters, President Serge Castillon recalled the importance of maintaining relationships with similar structures around the world.

“Among the 150 national entities that form the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul worldwide, some have adopted a model similar to ours, focused on charity and personal encounter. This is the case with the Lebanese team.”

Naji Kaddoum and Serge Castillon, Presidents of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Lebanon and France.

During his visit, Naji Kaddoum was able to discover how the French team operates and how teams are organized across the country (national, departmental, and local), as well as the links with specialized associations connected to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

Also present were Lamia Kadri Geha, National Coordinator for Lebanon, and Hugues de Foucauld, Secretary General of the association. They exchanged updates on the situation of local Lebanese teams.

Twinnings to Maintain Fraternal Bonds

“The other topic of the day,” explains Serge Castillon, “is twinning.”

Between France and Lebanon, around fifty twinning partnerships have already been created, encouraging fraternal, spiritual, and material ties. Many creative initiatives help maintain connections between teams, whether through exchanging letters or collecting food supplies.

“France helps us through these twinnings,” confirms Naji Kaddoum.
“In Lebanon, the economic situation is difficult due to the economic crisis that has affected the country since 2019. More than 80% of the population barely receives the basic salary.”

In the coming weeks, Agnès Villeroy de Galhau, President of the departmental team of Meurthe-et-Moselle, will travel to Lebanon accompanied by Bishop Pierre-Yves Michel, Bishop of the Diocese of Nancy.

“A twinning between French and Lebanese teams will soon be born,” rejoices Serge Castillon.

Serge Castillon, Naji Kaddoum, Lamia Kadri Geha and Hugues de Foucauld.