Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai during a homily, July 9, 2023, in Dimane. (Credit: Patriarchate's Facebook page)
Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai on Sunday said that Lebanese politicians need "reconciliation and peace" to elect a president. The the country has been without a head of state since October 2022, when Michel Aoun's term in office ended.
During Sunday's prayer, Rai said that "Lebanese politicians need reconciliation through clearing their memories to turn a blank page on the past … reconciliation and peace, are the noble principles, and only outlets to get out of the presidential election crisis."
"When electing a president, institutions become constitutional, most important of which are the government and Parliament … as long as the Lebanese republic is without a president, chaos will spread and the state assets will collapse, laws will be violated and injustice from the powerful will prevail," Rai continued.
The Lebanese Parliament has been unable to elect a president due to a lack of consensus between different parties. Parliament has occasionally legislated during the presidential vacancy even though, according to the constitution, the it becomes an exclusively electoral body for the president until someone is appointed to the post.
Gaza
"In such tense circumstances in the world and the region where the language of weapons and war prevails, we tell the rulers of the countries that have developed weapons, don't take pride in your weapons, thinking you are strong. Look into your hearts; you will see that you are weak in your humanity. Be strong with the love of your hearts," Rai said amid the Gaza war.
"What a shame are the crimes happening in Gaza. We condemn the massacres committed against the Palestinian people at the hands of the Israelis. They are intentionally killing tens of people waiting for food aid as they starve, and others are dying from hunger on the streets in front of their [Israelis] eyes," Rai continued.
On Friday, more than 100 Palestinians were killed and some 700 others wounded after Israeli troops reportedly opened fire on hundreds waiting for food aid southwest of Gaza City, as the besieged enclave faces an unprecedented hunger crisis.
War in south Lebanon
"No one should slip Lebanon into a war of killing, destruction, and displacement with no benefit, for purposes that have nothing to do with the general Lebanese and also the southern Lebanese," Rai said.
South Lebanon has been at war with Israel as it exchanges attacks that began following the Oct. 7 al-Aqsa flood in support of its ally Hamas. Rival parties of Hezbollah criticize it for involving Lebanon in the Gaza war.