Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Raï emphasized that "the parliament is an electoral assembly and not a legislative one in the absence of a president, and there is no legitimacy for the government's and the parliament's work in the event of a presidential vacancy." He stated in his Sunday sermon: "The Christians are divided over the identity of the president, while others differ over the identity of the republic."
In the full sermon: "And behold, Lazarus is now at rest here, and you are in torment there (Luke 12:25).
1. The church invites us this Sunday and throughout the coming week to remember our deceased and all faithful departed. We pray for the peace of their souls as they behold the face of God, offering masses, acts of mercy, and love. We ask God to ease their purgatorial pains and to take them to the happiness of heaven, and we appeal to them to pray to God for us so that we may reach the harbor of salvation in this world and the next.
On this occasion, the church reads the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Jesus teaches us in this parable that our historical existence begins with our birth from our mothers, and our journey towards our eternal existence begins. By the nature of our lives on earth, each one of us determines the nature of our eternal existence: either everlasting salvation or damnation. In this sense, Abraham said to the rich man: "And behold, Lazarus is now at rest here, and you are in torment there" (Luke 12:25).
2. We are happy to celebrate this divine liturgy, remembering our deceased and all faithful departed. I warmly welcome you all and extend special greetings to the family of the late Adla Chadrad, widow of the late Professor Louis Abu Sharaf, a former minister and deputy. We bid farewell to her ten days ago with her children, families, in-laws, and many Lebanese and officials. I also extend special greetings to the family of the late Halima Nader Simon Elias, widow of the late Adib Karim Al-Shartouni, whom we farewell five days ago with her sons, daughter, siblings, families, and many residents of the beloved Bsoos and others. We pray for the peace of the souls of the deceased Adla and Halima, and for the comfort of their families and friends.
3. God bestowed upon us three faculties to improve the quality of our historical existence: the mind that leads us to the truth, the will by which we love the truth and do good, and the freedom through which we make our daily choices within the framework of truth and goodness. Since we are quick to decay, due to the wound of original sin and our lack as creatures, the mind may deviate, deceived by the darkness of error and falsehood, the will may shift towards selfishness and evil, and freedom may intoxicate itself with its destructive choices. Thus, God gave us His Word and grace, His forgiveness and His body, to heal, correct, uplift, and strengthen us: "They have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them" (Luke 16:29).
Moses and the prophets represent the Church today, which bears to the world the words of the Gospel, the grace of the sacraments, and the love of Christ.
4. The problem of the rich is not in his ownership, which is a natural right of man sanctioned by divine and human laws (Pope Leo XIII: Modern Issues, 6-7), but in the worship of his wealth and possessions. He sought his happiness in his riches, not in God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "Money today is the greatest god, and people offer it spontaneous respect. They measure dignity and happiness by wealth, believing that a wealthy person can do anything. Wealth is an idol of our times" (paragraph 1723). Private property is essential for human life, but it requires good stewardship, for a person should not consider their possessions as solely their own, but rather as shared, in accordance with the command of the Apostle Paul: "Charge those who are rich in this world not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy; let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share" (1 Timothy 6:17-18).
5. Lazarus the poor did not attain salvation because he was poor; God, who is all-good, does not want us to be poor in terms of deprivation, but rather wants us to be poor in spirit, detached from the treasures of this world to the point of worshipping them, and fully in a state of detachment. Lazarus received salvation because he accepted the condition of poverty, endured his trials, carried his cross without complaint, trusted in God's care, and lived humbly. He attained salvation because he did not covet the rich man's wealth, refusing to resort to violence, theft, deceit, and wrongful aggression, in accordance with God's commandments; and because he was free from "the lust of the eyes" (1 John 2:16), pure of heart and intent.
Lazarus the poor was the rich man's path to his eternal salvation; neglecting Lazarus at the gate of his home, turning a blind eye to his misery, closing his ears to his moans, and drowning in his pleasures and selfishness led to his eternal damnation.
6. This evangelical parable perfectly applies to our situation in Lebanon: the rich represents the officials and powerful entities obstructing the election of a President of the Republic, which is crucial for the order of state and constitutional institutions. Lazarus the poor embodies the Lebanese people living in dire poverty and complete deprivation of their basic rights. The former should realize that with the passing days, as the economic and living conditions worsen further, they are accumulating crimes that are fatal to this people.
7. Stand, O you responsible and powerful officials, before the court of God, conscience, the people, and history. Know that every plea coming from the Arab and international community is not merely a wish, but a condemnation of your corruption and abuse of power and influence. Where are you from your primary constitutional responsibility to elect a President of the Republic, which legitimizes the work of the parliament and the government? Where are you regarding the necessary reforms required internationally? Where are you from lifting your hands off the judges and the judiciary to continue the investigation into the Beirut port explosion to unveil the truth and exercise justice? Where are you regarding the awaited measures from the International Monetary Fund and the international community? Where are you from achieving the rule of law and emerging from chaos and the spread of illegal weapons and the law of the jungle? Where are you in consolidating Lebanon's sovereignty over all its territory and affirming its independence?
8. They speak of dialogue and some initiative from the patriarchate. The patriarchal seat, which has never hesitated in bearing responsibility, hopes that all political forces will share this responsibility openly and clearly so that success is our ally. If the President is Maronite, not all voters are Maronites and Christians. While part of the responsibility for the presidential vacancy lies with Christian leaders, the greater responsibility falls on others. Because Christians are divided over the identity of the president while others differ on the identity of the republic. Thus, we are keen on not compromising the identity of either the president or the republic, as they are guarantees for the unity of Lebanon and its existence amidst internal and foreign projects that have placed Lebanon on the dissection table without any regard for the history and uniqueness of this nation. Lebanon is not a system shifting from one team to another; rather, it is a nation that moves from generation to generation through the democratic mechanism alone.
9. In any case, the fundamental issue remains that the parliament needs to convene and elect a president based on Article 49 of the constitution. Its failure to convene and the continuation of the vacancy does not justify the violation of Articles 74 and 75, which declare that "the parliament is an electoral assembly, not legislative." Violating these articles translates into breaching Article 57 concerning the powers of the president and undermines the principle of separation of powers affirmed in the introduction of the constitution in paragraph (h).
For this reason, two MPs, whom we thank, have been continuously sitting in the parliament for twenty-five days, without electricity or warmth in these days, enduring the harsh cold, deprived of movement, recreation, and living in the warmth of their families. We rely on the wisdom of the President of the Parliament to maintain the unity of the council.
10. By electing the right and best president, the work of institutions will be organized, and the trade of the state's resources at the expense of its treasury and the people will cease! Concerning the Port of Beirut, no dubious bilateral agreements should pass without international announcement to bid! Regarding Lebanese ports as a whole, no projects should pass in the parliament based on favoritism and personal interests. In the Ministry of Agriculture, with regard to controlling the distribution of aid to farmers, each Lebanese farmer must be assigned a number from the Finance Ministry to sell their produce to traders, after which the export process will take place. In terms of controlling the drug smuggling process, cooperation must occur between exporters and importers according to the rules.
11. We cannot continue to demolish what Lebanon is distinguished by in terms of progress and prosperity in its environment, whether in scientific, cultural, medical, and banking fields, high-level cultural and religious diversity in national unity, coexistence in cooperation, mutual respect, and integrating national identity and its civilization, freedom of belief and expression, openness to the East and West, and cultural and economic communication with all.
This state, if returned to Lebanon, glorifies God and praises Him now and forever, Amen."
