Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi on Wednesday deemed reformative measures as a good first step forward, calling on the President to begin talks with the country’s various political leaders to take necessary actions in response to peoples’ demands.

During the Assembly of the Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Lebanon emergency meeting chaired by al-Rahi in Bkirki, the Patriarch bolstered support of the ongoing nationwide protests, hailing their united front.

“October 17 has become a historical and exceptional popular uprising that calls for alike measures,” al-Rahi stated, adding that “sedatives won’t work anymore.”

“We back up this uprising and ask for embracing and protecting it,” the Patriarch said, noting that he has warned of the current events but the successive government’s over 30 years disregarded his calling.

“The reformative measures issued by the Cabinet represent a good first step but requires a government reshuffle and a prompt implementation mechanism,” he emphasized.

The Patriarch called on the state officials to take serious, drastic and courageous steps to pull out the country from this detrimental crisis, the President to hold meetings with the state officials to find solutions, the Lebanese protesters in the country and worldwide to maintain peace in their movements, and finally the international community to help resolve the problem and support the country’s democracy.