Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai. (Credit: NNA)
In his homily on Palm Sunday, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai called for an end to the war that has affected Lebanon since early March and for the restoration of peace. He also mourned the victims, particularly journalists and health care workers.
"Enough of wars, killings and destruction! Human strength does not lie in violence, but in the ability to preserve peace, dignity and remain true to the truth," the patriarch said. "We choose peace. We want peace, we are committed to it," he added.
Referring to the Gospel reading for Palm Sunday, Patriarch Rai said that "those who came to greet Jesus did not carry weapons, but palm and olive branches, symbols of joy and peace." "Our hearts are wounded by the pain and sadness we feel for the children whose lives were cut short by the missiles of this hateful war, as well as for the children displaced with their families, exposed to rain and cold. We thank all the organizations and individuals who bring them food, medicine and clothing, and we especially thank Egypt, whose aid arrived yesterday," he added.
Rai also said he was "in solidarity with the peaceful and resilient people in the South." "What saddens us most is the martyrdom of a father and his son on the Dibil road, as well as the deaths of journalists, first responders, soldiers, and civilians in several regions," he said.
Three journalists, Ali Choeib and Fatima and Mohammad Ftouni, were killed Saturday in a targeted Israeli drone strike on their vehicle on a main road in Jezzine, south Lebanon. The Israeli army has also repeatedly targeted first responders, killing 51 of them so far since the conflict began. Saturday's events alone left more than 60 people dead in Lebanon, including two people, a father and his son, killed on the road linking the Christian villages of Dibil and Rmeish, in Bint Jbeil district.
In a report published Saturday evening, the Health Ministry said the total number of victims of this new war has killed 1,189 and wounded 3,427. Among those killed are 124 children and 86 women. This escalation has caused more than a million displaced people, or 20 percent of the Lebanese population.
South Lebanon and the Bekaa celebrate Palm Sunday despite the war
In south Lebanon, the Christian border village of Rmeish celebrated Palm Sunday despite the intense fighting that has taken place in the area in recent days between Hezbollah and the Israeli army. Dozens joined a procession through the village, according to a video broadcast by LBCI, which also reported a mass held in the city of Sour, a locality heavily shelled in recent days.
Masses were also held in the northern Bekaa, attended by many worshippers, notably at Mar Elian Church in Ras Baalbeck.
