The head of the Maronite Church Bechara al-Rai (center) officiates a mass at Bkirki on March 12, 2023. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai on Sunday welcomed the restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, hailing a "political reconciliation" and advocating for a similar reconciliation between the various Lebanese parties. Lebanon has been without a head of state since the end of Michel Aoun's term in office in October 2022, due to a deep political crisis.
Riyadh and Tehran had severed diplomatic relations in 2016 after protesters in Iran attacked Saudi diplomatic missions following Saudi Arabia’s execution of a Shiite cleric. But the two capitals announced Friday that they had agreed, in a China-brokered deal, to restore relations and reopen their respective embassies within the next two months.
"We bless this step which is part of a framework of political reconciliation," the head of the Maronite Church said during his Sunday homily in Bkirki.
In words, reported by the state-run National News Agency, he added: "We hope that this reconciliation will take place in Lebanon in order to regain our natural identity, that of neutrality in relation to conflicts and foreign wars." The patriarch also reportedly recalled that the country is "the place of meeting and dialogue of religions and civilizations."
Speaking about the presidential election, Rai said that "the crime committed by the nation's MPs is the non-election of a president because of divisions."
The country has been without a president since Oct. 31, when Aoun's six-year term in office came to an end. Some 11 electoral sessions have been convened in Parliament, but Lebanon's MPs have not succeeded in electing a successor.
"Who has the right of veto? What right do we have to impose someone? If you want dialogue, come and just deal with the needs of the country," the prelate blasted.
In recent days, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has called for a dialogue around the presidential election, after announcing his party's official support for the candidacy of Marada Movement leader Sleiman Frangieh.