Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai presided over the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the Feast of Saint Charbel at the Monastery of Saint Maroun in Annaya, in the presence of President Joseph Aoun, the First Lady and a large gathering of dignitaries.
In his sermon, Patriarch Rai addressed electoral issues, calling for the repeal of Article 112 of the electoral law, which had been suspended in the previous elections due to legal concerns. He also spoke out against the creation of six electoral districts exclusively for expatriates.
“This undermines the principle of equality enshrined in the Constitution,” Rai warned. “Limiting diaspora representation to six seats is an exclusionary move that contradicts their right to maintain strong ties with their homeland. To protect freedom, Article 112 must be repealed.”
He also called for unity, wisdom and a return to values amid the country’s ongoing political and economic crisis. He prayed with the president and his wife “through the intercession of Saint Charbel,” asking that “your path may be guided and your wisdom increased in leading Lebanon through these difficult times.”
The patriarch praised the president’s visit as “a beacon of hope,” adding, “Lebanon needs leaders in the likeness of Saint Charbel and Prophet Elias, those who speak little and work silently, especially in these times of political turbulence.”
He emphasized that Saint Charbel’s influence goes beyond religious boundaries, “He became a saint for all sects and religions… a Lebanese saint in the flesh, universal in spirit, who lives in the hearts of nations.”
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