The Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi presided over the Christmas Mass at the Patriarchal Edifice, with a large official and popular presence. The President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, and the First Lady attended the Mass, in addition to a crowd of current and former deputies and ministers.
In his spiritual address, Al-Rahi affirmed that “the people are tired of the crises and are waiting for a new dawn,” stressing that “darkness is not fate, and Christmas is the new beginning in which we say enough to wars, divisions, and fear of the future.”
He also stated: “Lebanon can rise, heal, and be a homeland of peace,” calling for “a silent prayer for Lebanon, so that Christmas may be the beginning of a new phase in which the prestige of the state and institutions is restored, and the constitution and laws are reconsidered.”
Patriarch Al-Rahi addressed President Aoun, saying: “The celebration is complete with your presence, Your Excellency the President, and we hope that Christmas will be a blessing in your journey, so that Lebanon may enjoy peace. A savior is born to us, a call of life to a people tired of crises.”
He concluded by saying: “Lebanon is built with courageous and wise decisions, and this nation is called to be a homeland of living together, a homeland of hope, not frustration.”
