Al-Rahi: Reports about My Resignation Are Lies and We Apologized to the Vatican

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi strongly denied on Tuesday rumors saying he was resigning as the head of the church in Lebanon, slamming media reports as “lies.”

"Reports about my resignation are only lies,” al-Rahi stated upon his arrival at Rafik Hariri International Airport after returning to Beirut from the Vatican.

“It is not appropriate that media in Lebanon becomes a platform for lies.”

Al-Rahi said he apologized to Pope Francis about these "fabrications,” noting also that talks with the head of the Vatican did not tackle his pontiff's visit to Lebanon.

“It is because we were ashamed of reports about replacing cardinals,” he explained.

Al-Rahi's denial comes after El-Sharq newspaper said he would resign to get the post of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri at the Vatican.

“It was decided at the Vatican for the prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches to be from the Orient so the choice fell on the head of the most important and effective church in the Orient,” said El-Sharq.

The Patriarch reiterated that he holds on to “partnership and love” as a slogan.

On the recent sectarian-motivated security developments in the country, al-Rahi remarked that Muslims and Christians have been living and building a society together based on both religions' values for 1400 years.

“The presence of Christians and of Muslims are equally valuable to the East,” he said.

“Do suicide and killing people have anything to do with religion or human values?,” he asked.

The Patriarch expressed his willingness to communicate with all factions in the country.

He elaborated: “I accept any invitation I get and I do not close the door in front of dialogue with anyone. Our culture promotes openness and communication. We do not have personal relations with anyone and this is why we communicate with everyone.”

“If Lebanon loses communication, we lose the country's values.”

“This is why we call for neutralizing the country and we support President Michel Suleiman in this matter.”

He lamented that Lebanon became a “victim” to conflicts, hoping that the talks between international powers in Geneva would include countries of the region to solve pending problems, starting with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Al-Rahi was in Rome along with other Catholic patriarchs for a summit meeting for the leaders of the Eastern churches in communion with Pope Francis.