Maronite Patriarch Says Lebanon’s Decline Linked to Leaders’ Failure to Act with Moral Integrity

In a pointed message delivered during his Sunday sermon, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi called on Lebanon's political leaders to listen to God's word as a moral duty, particularly in the context of the country's ongoing presidential vacuum. With Lebanon nearing two years without a head of state, the Patriarch warned of the nation's accelerating decline. Speaking from Diman, Patriarch Al-Rahi lamented the paralysis gripping Lebanon's political institutions, attributing much of the country's turmoil to its leaders' failure to act according to divine guidance. "If every official heeded God's word, many of their negative stances would change, starting with the obstruction of the presidential election," the patriarch said. "This would have restored the proper functioning of the constitutional institutions, particularly the Cabinet and the Parliament." Lebanon has been without a president since October 2022, and the prolonged deadlock has exacerbated the country's political and economic instability. Sourc e: National News Agency - Lebanon