On the feast of Saint Maron, Card. Rai points the way out of the Lebanese crisis

The function was attended by the highest offices of the State, including President Aoun and Prime Minister Mikati. In his homily, the cardinal listed five priorities, including the elections in May and the truth about the incident at Beirut port. The country must not be transformed into an arena of regional conflict, and a model of coexistence must be found. 

Beirut (AsiaNews) - Parliamentary and presidential elections to be held according to the dates provided for by the Constitution; bringing to light the truth about the double explosion at the port of Beirut in August 2020; accelerating the process of reforms and agreeing with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a rescue plan for Lebanon; completing the implementation of the Taif Agreement, closing its gaps and ensuring full sovereignty on Lebanese territory; adopting the system of so-called "positive neutrality" as the basis for foreign relations.

These are the five points outlined by the Maronite Patriarch, Card. Beshara Raï, during the homily of the Mass celebrated yesterday for the feast of St Maron, a religious and civil feast, to save the country of the cedars from a political, economic and institutional crisis that has dragged it to the brink of the abyss. 

The cardinal addressed a supplication to the holy founder of the Maronite order, asking him to protect "our country, our Church and our people" so that they may remain "faithful to the mission" in this East troubled by wars and violence. At the same time, he appealed to the highest institutional offices to ensure that the elections are held in accordance with the law. 

The function was attended by the head of state Michel Aoun, the president of parliament Nabih Berri and the prime minister Nagib Mikati. The words of Card. Raï's words are linked to fears of a postponement of the vote scheduled for 15 May and feared by some of the government parties and within Parliament, while the country continues its drift towards socio-economic collapse.

The legislative elections are perceived by many Lebanese as an opportunity to change the political and ruling class, accused of being responsible for the unprecedented crisis that has hit the nation. However, rumours are also pointing to a postponement of the vote as the traditional parties see their popularity dwindling and fear the response and the wrath of an increasingly dissatisfied electorate, with three quarters of the population living in increasing poverty. 

Addressing institutional officials and the faithful from the altar of St Maron's Church in Gemmayzeh, a district of Beirut, the cardinal recalled that "Lebanese Maronites have made freedom their spirituality" as well as a "social and political project". They have followed the saint's example because of his faith and his values of benevolence, love, gift, dignity and strength. For this reason, he continued, "rancour, envy, hatred, revenge and the spirit of surrender" must be strongly opposed, because history teaches: "The political and military fall of all empires - he warned - is preceded by the collapse of the scale of values".

Card. Cardinal Raï extolled the cultural and religious pluralism that animates the nation, the democratic parliamentary system, public freedoms, the commitment to neutrality and peace, the separation of religion from the State "in a single formula based on coexistence". Lebanon, he continued, should have become "a pioneering project" for East and West and "a meeting place for civilisations", but the "weakness" of the nation "has distorted its message".

Finally, he called for the Land of the Cedars not to be transformed "into an arena for conflicts in the region, a missile platform [referring to Hezbollah] and a battle front". Recognising Lebanon as a homeland, he concluded, means recognising three constants: "the purpose of the coexistence pact, the purpose of the role of Christians and the purpose of loyalty to Lebanon itself. By respecting this historical triangle, we will save the unity of Lebanon and demonstrate its neutrality'.