Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, presided over Sunday’s Mass service from the Italian capital, Rome, this morning, where he urged in his homily “the political officials entrusted with the public good to exercise the duty of legislation, procedure, administration, justice, security, imposing stability, advancing the economy, providing job opportunities, and preserving human dignity and rights.”The Patriarch considered it truly unfortunate and painful that the Gospel of Christ and all the work of redemption and salvation are being undermined, adding, “The gospel of love and peace is despised among us in Lebanon, with hatred, spite, corruption, low morals, individual and factional interests, suspicious projects, and loyalties to other than the homeland prevailing…All of these are evident in the obstruction of the election of a president of the republic throughout the past year, despite the presence of prominent candidates and programs according to democratic principles.’Al-Rahi went on
, “The gospel of justice and human rights is despised by the international community that floods Lebanon with protection for more than two million displaced Syrians, in addition to daily births. The international community pays them their livelihood, provides them with food and clothing, and opposes their return to Syria for political reasons related to international policy towards the government in Syria, while Lebanon and the Lebanese are being punished for their humanity.”He underlined that the cost of the Syrian displacement to Lebanon ever since the beginning of the war in Syria has reached 49 billion and 690 million dollars, to which the international community contributed only 12 billion dollars, while the Lebanese state was forced to pay from its treasury the difference, which is about 48 billion dollars.The Patriarch regretted the persistent injustice by the international community towards Lebanon, stressing that an end must be put to this ordeal by securing the return of displaced Syrians to their h
omeland in order to preserve their land, culture, and dignity. He also urged the Lebanese to rally around their army institution that has provided enormous sacrifices to ensure civil peace and protect the interior and the borders in the darkest circumstances.
Source: National News Agency-Lebanon