Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, delivered this morning from the “Church of Our Lady” in Bkerke, the message of Christmas, expressing his well-wishes to the Lebanese people in general, and Christians in particular, residing in the homeland and the countries of the Diaspora.

In his homily, Al-Rahi considered that the recent events in Lebanon and the transformations in Syria have increased the conviction of Lebanon’s neutrality.

"Lebanese neutrality does not build a wall between Lebanon and its surroundings and the world, but rather modifies and activates its role and makes it a partner in finding solutions," the patriarch said.

He hoped that a president for the republic would be elected on January 9th who would be qualified to create internal unity, achieve decentralization and reforms, control the pace of state leadership, and activate its institutions.