Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai celebrating a mass in Bkirki, on April 10, 2023. (Credit: Bkirki via Facebook)
BEIRUT — Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai offered an Easter Monday homily from Bkirki, the headquarters of the Patriarchate, in which he prayed for Lebanon to "regain its rightful place in the region and the world."
The Easter Monday mass is traditionally dedicated to France. France's ambassador to Lebanon, Anne Grillo, attended Monday's homily in Bkirki.
"We know well, Madam Ambassador, how much France works today for peace in Europe and in our region that is so torn," said Rai during the ceremony.
"We pray for [France] so that it remains the leading figure in any struggle for freedom, the rights of individuals and peoples throughout the world," Rai continued, according to the Maronite Patriarchate on social media. "Let us also pray for Lebanon, and ask, by the grace of God, that our country may rise as always from its ashes, and regain its rightful place in the region and in the world."
France is working alongside Saudi Arabia to try to unblock the election of a new president of Lebanon. However, disagreements between Paris and Riyadh around this issue have been reported lately.
Patriarch Rai once again mentioned the stalled presidential election on Sunday, calling on Lebanese leaders not to wait for "a secret word" to elect a new head of state. Presidential candidates are often the result of agreements between international and regional powers.
On April 5, the vast majority of Christian MPs responded to Patriarch Rai's invitation to a spiritual day during which he addressed the issue of the presidential impasse.
On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis included "Lebanon, which is still seeking stability and unity," among other countries he mentioned in his prayer intentions.