Maronite Patriarch Bechara Raï emphasized that "a politics that practices domination rather than service is incapable of caring for others," considering that "politics exercised incorrectly crushes the poor, exploits the land, confronts conflicts, and does not know how to engage in dialogue." He asked the MPs, "Each one of us and every righteous politician should ask themselves these questions: How have you allowed the people to progress? What genuine bonds have you built? How much social peace have you sown? What have you produced in the responsibility entrusted to you? And what have you done to facilitate the election of a president and revive the state's institutions?"
He pointed out that "love places the politician closer to every person, especially to the weaker ones. Pope Francis says that a politics that seeks to create a personal and factional space is bad; however, a politics that seeks to lay foundations for the future of generations is good."
Raï's remarks came during the sermon he delivered at the Divine Liturgy he headed at the conclusion of the spiritual retreat in Beit Anya - Harissa, which was attended by MPs, including Gebran Bassil leading a delegation from "Strong Lebanon," Strida Geagea leading a delegation from "The Strong Republic," and Tony Franjieh along with members of the "Kataeb" party and others.
The retreat, attended by 53 MPs according to "National Media," began with a spiritual talk by the patriarchal deputy Bishop Antoine Auquer, titled "Salvation Between the Work of God and the Works of the Believer." Following the retreat, a lunch was held in honor of the participants.
