Al-Rahi Hopes that Officials Would Achieve Mutual Respect and End Cabinet Crisis

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday prayed that Lebanon comes out of its crisis and hoped that the relationship between officials would be based on mutual respect.

During a mass at the Harissa basilica, al-Rahi expressed hope that Lebanese officials would use their conscience to end the government formation impasse that is “paralyzing constitutional institutions” and drowning Lebanon in an economic crisis.

Al-Rahi said over the weekend that nations are not built by trade or government posts and warned that a third of the Lebanese population is living under the poverty line.

“Nations are not built by trade, money or seats,” al-Rahi said Saturday during a ceremony organized by Radio Charity to honor him and former patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.

On the contrary, nations are built through the unity of its “heroes” who make sacrifices for the country’s goodwill, al-Rahi said. “We hope that we still have such heroes who believe in Lebanon first.”

On Friday, the patriarch met with visiting delegations in Bkirki. He told his visitors that major projects should be carried out to improve social conditions.

“The luxury and lavish spending do not reflect the real social conditions in Lebanon,” he said. “We regret to say that one third of the Lebanese population has reached below the line of poverty.”