Bkerk©: Maronite Patriarch and Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi called in his Sunday homily for God to transform the current 10-day ceasefire into a complete end to the war, paving the way for a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace through serious, impartial dialogue and diplomatic negotiations, for the benefit of all Lebanese under the authority of the state alone.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, he delivered his remarks during the third Sunday of the Easter season (the Road to Emmaus), at the patriarchal seat in Bkerk©, where he welcomed delegations from 63 southern Lebanese towns. These included priests, mayors, and mukhtars, along with representatives from various social and humanitarian organizations such as Caritas Lebanon, L'€¦‚¬„¢uvre d'Orient, the Maronite League, the Maronite Foundation in the Diaspora, the Patriarchal Foundation for Integral Development, the Pontifical Mission, St. Vincent de Paul Society, the South Lebanon Council, Solidarity, and Mary's Kitchen, as well as individual donors.
He expressed heartfelt gratitude to all participants and greeted the southern communities present, offering prayers for the victims, the wounded, and their families.
Addressing the people of southern Lebanon, he said they are "at the heart of the Church and the nation," praising both displaced residents and those who remain in their villages despite hardship. He described them as a "bulwark of the country" and "witnesses of resilience and faith," affirming that their suffering must be met with support, protection, and care in line with moral, legal, and international obligations.
Reflecting on the Gospel of Emmaus, he said their pain mirrors that of the disciples, but Christ hears, speaks to, and accompanies them. He stressed that the ongoing war is rejected by the people, the state, and every living conscience, insisting that peace cannot be imposed by force but must be built through dialogue.
He concluded by praying for an end to the "unjust war" and for the achievement of a "just, comprehensive, and lasting peace" through successful ongoing negotiations.