Patriarch Rai (center) celebrating mass at the summer seat of the Maronite Patriarchate in Dimane, North Lebanon, on July 6, 2025. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai emphasized the necessity of maintaining the sense of service in politics during his homily delivered on Sunday at the celebration of the first Mass of the summer season at the church of Dimane, the summer seat of the patriarchy in the Bsharre district of North Lebanon.
"The nation is a message and the Lebanese are missionaries in their country," the cardinal declared, advocating against isolationism and for partnership, and expressing support for working toward a "common future."
In his homily, which revolved mostly around topics of spirituality and reflection, Archbishop Rai seemed to cover just about every challenge facing Lebanon at the moment, from disarming militias to fighting corruption, to deep internal divisions. "How many political leaders have forgotten that responsibility is a mission made of services rendered to others and of sacrifice," he asked.
"What weakens our country is not only impoverishment and the economic crisis," he added, "but this abandonment of social mission. When politics loses the sense of serving others, it turns into conflicts of interest. And when the citizen takes refuge in their anxiety and loses hope in their ability to effect change, their mission ends."
"We are all called to rediscover the sense of this national mission, to step out of our comfort zone and take initiative, to meet others halfway and not fight them, to serve one another and not take advantage of each other, and to reconnect with the values that constitute our country, especially compassion, dignity, coexistence, openness, and creativity."