Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi renewed his call for the election of an “exceptional” individual for the presidency, stressing the need for a candidate who embodies moral integrity and maturity.

In his Sunday sermon, al-Rahi called for the election of a president who can stand against any affronts to both his position and the State; a president who can uphold the State’s legitimacy and sovereignty and confront any attempts to undermine it.

The Maronite patriarch urged the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, notably 1559, 1680, and 1701, which guarantee Lebanon's independence and sovereignty, and ensure the State’s exclusive authority over the entire Lebanese territory.

On aiding Lebanon, al-Rahi called for swift and substantial aid from the Arab and international communities, commensurate with the scale of Lebanon's collapse.

This aid should be disbursed and managed under the supervision of a small committee of donor countries until global trust in the Lebanese authorities is restored, he pointed out.