Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi renewed his call for an end to the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and southern Lebanon, emphasizing that love and compassion are the keys to stopping the violence.

In his Sunday sermon, Al-Rahi highlighted the destructive consequences of the wars, which he described as a source of weakness and loss for all parties involved, deploring the displacement of innocent civilians, the destruction of homes, and the burning of lands without justification.

"If the warlords were to reflect on the outcomes of their actions, they would cease their actions, which are suggestive of weakness rather than heroism," he said, urging the warring parties to acknowledge the devastating effects of war and to pursue a culture of negotiation instead.

Turning to Lebanon's internal issues, Al-Rahi addressed the ongoing political crisis, which has left the country without a president for nearly two years. He expressed disappointment that the Lebanese political forces have failed to safeguard the State of Greater Lebanon, stressing that this has exacerbated the challenges faced by Lebanese citizens.

"We established the State of Greater Lebanon to be accepted in our Arab surroundings, yet some Lebanese components reject it. Today, Lebanese people suffer from the burdens of education, living conditions, and job opportunities, which are the core responsibilities of the state, but these are non-existent. As long as the state has no president and the top tier of its constitutionality remains vacant for nearly two years, the intentional presidential void has negative impacts, including the disruption of institutions, the disintegration of administrations, the violation of laws, and the targeting of Christian Maronite positions within the state, which threatens the formula of shared governance and parity in public administration," Al-Rahi said. 

The patriarch also voiced frustration over the Lebanese presidential election being influenced by external initiatives. While he acknowledged and appreciated these efforts, he criticized the fact that the election of Lebanon's president remains tied to external factors and developments.

Al-Rahi called on the Lebanese Parliament to respond positively to the Quintet Committee's efforts to resolve the country's political deadlock and end the "abnormal situation" plaguing Lebanon.