NNA - Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi expressed profound sorrow over the devastating toll inflicted upon Lebanon by Israeli airstrikes, describing these attacks as unprecedented and devoid of humanity.

In his Sunday sermon, Al-Rahi called on the United Nations Security Council to intervene and put an end to the ongoing conflict, advocating for peace negotiations aimed at establishing justice for the Lebanese people.

"In war, everyone is a loser; the only winners are arms dealers," the patriarch said.

Al-Rahi also expressed deep concern about Lebanon's shifting political landscape, noting that the nation has moved from a state of unique pluralism to one characterized by singularity and division. He warned that this troubling trend can only be reversed when the Lebanese people embrace a new path forward, one that fosters hope and lays the groundwork for a new historical narrative.

Al-Rahi emphasized the necessity of establishing a stable and independent Lebanese state, capable of overcoming internal divisions and healing the scars of war. He stated that this goal can only be achieved through the election of a president who will restore legislative powers to Parliament and uphold the constitutional authority of the Council of Ministers. --- Kataeb English