Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi on Thursday reiterated his call for the election of a president, emphasizing that only a duly elected head of state can ensure Lebanon’s unity amid its diversity. 

Patriarch Al-Rahi stressed that, according to Article 49 of the Lebanese Constitution, the president is not only a symbol of national unity but also crucial to maintaining the country's balance.

Leading the Mass for the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary at the Patriarchal summer residence in Dimane, Patriarch Al-Rahi highlighted the profound reverence for the Virgin Mary shared by both Christianity and Islam. He praised the occasion as a reflection of the harmonious relationship between Lebanon’s diverse religious communities.

He pointed out that the Feast of the Annunciation is not merely a religious observance but also a national holiday in Lebanon, symbolizing a key aspect of national unity among the Lebanese. 

“The Feast of the Annunciation, celebrated by both Christians and Muslims, represents one of the beautiful elements that bring Lebanese people together,” Patriarch Al-Rahi stated. “It is essential to revisit and leverage the commonalities between Christianity and Islam to enrich our national life. This shared ground is the foundation of Lebanon’s system of cultural and religious pluralism, which thrives on unity in diversity.”

The patriarch also emphasized that Lebanon’s identity is defined by its diversity, not by uniformity.

“Lebanon with a single color is not Lebanon; Lebanon with a single party is not Lebanon; Lebanon with a single opinion imposed by an individual or a group is not Lebanon; Lebanon with a single religion is not Lebanon,” he affirmed.