The Maronite Church’s perspective on Lebanon, deeply rooted in a historical interplay of faith, geography, and politics, offers a unique lens through which to understand the positions of its patriarchs. These positions become particularly pronounced during moments of existential threat to the nation and its people.

While the style and tone of each Maronite patriarch reflect their individual character, a clear and consistent trajectory of stances from Bkerke, the seat of the Maronite Church, has been evident since the days of Patriarch Youhanna Maroun in the 7th century. These positions surface most notably during critical national junctures.

In his Sunday homily, Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi delivered a sharp critique of Lebanon's ongoing political deadlock, condemning the failure to elect a president and questioning the legitimacy of Parliament and the government.

“Who is negotiating the ceasefire? On whose behalf, and for whose benefit?” Al-Rahi asked as he stressed that the negotiation role is a constitutional prerogative of the president—a position he considers is being deliberately left vacant.

According to a report by Al-Modon news platform, visitors to the patriarch described his growing frustration with the deliberate obstruction of presidential elections, driven by agendas unrelated to Lebanon’s interests.

“No responsible leader, genuinely prioritizing the nation’s unity and welfare, would accept this power void or prevent the election of a president who embodies genuine national partnership,” the visitors quoted Al-Rahi as saying.

The patriarch has also expressed strong opinions about the disarmament of non-state groups, which one bishop described as “non-negotiable” for Lebanon’s future. Al-Rahi reportedly stated that all weapons in Lebanon, including those of Hezbollah, must be handed over to the State after the current conflict ends.

“Lebanese, both Muslims and Christians, cannot live under the perpetual fear of recurring wars, death, and displacement,” the patriarch was quoted as saying.

When asked specifically whether this disarmament applies to Hezbollah, a bishop confirmed: “Yes, Hezbollah must hand over its weapons to the State after the war ends and operate as a political party like all others. All illegal arms must be removed, and no area should remain outside the control of the State and its security agencies.”

Moreover, Al-Rahi is said to insist on Lebanon's neutrality now more than ever, arguing that repeated experiences have shown that aligning the country with any external party only brings destruction and disintegration.

The patriarch is reportedly dismayed by accusations suggesting his positions target specific sects or political factions, stressing that he has repeatedly stressed the need to separate any political party from its associated religious community. This principle, he asserts, applies to all Lebanese sects, including the Shiite community, which he says cannot be reduced to any single party, regardless of its influence.