Patriarch Raï: Do Not Think You Are Strong With Your Weapons, You Are the Weakest of the Weak!

In his sermon during the divine liturgy in Bkerke today, Maronite Patriarch Beshara Raï expressed that "the decision for war is a grave responsibility and a bitter and accountable one," noting that "we pray to spare the people of the south from further casualties, losses, destruction, and displacement, and to stop the war on Gaza." He said: "Hold on, you bloodthirsty warlords who remain thirsty for blood! Who has empowered you over human souls while you transgress against the authority of the Creator, the giver of life and taker of it? Do not think you are strong with your weapons; you are indeed the weakest of the weak! What strengthens you is your heart if it has love and mercy! What strengthens you is your mind if it enlightens you to think about whom you are killing, and which properties you are destroying, and whose homes you are demolishing! What strengthens you is your will if you abstain your hands from using all these weapons that you think make you strong. No! You are strong through your humanity, created in the image of God, in love and mercy." He added: "Let us pray, dear brothers and sisters, to spare the Lebanese people of the south further casualties, losses, destruction, and displacement, and to stop the war on Gaza."