The Maronite bishops held their monthly meeting at the summer patriarchal residence in Diman, chaired by Patriarch Bechara Rai, with participation from the general superiors of Maronite orders. At the end of the meeting, they issued a statement expressing their concerns about the repercussions of the war in Gaza and southern Lebanon, which may lead to a comprehensive escalation of violence driven by foreign interests unrelated to the nation. They emphasized that the only solution that brings calm and some level of stability remains in the implementation of United Nations resolutions, especially Resolution 1701.
The statement added that in light of the dangers threatening the nation and the horrors of the ongoing war in southern Lebanon, and given that the state should be present with all its institutions and agencies to confront this critical reality, the bishops reiterated their demand for the Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, to call for consecutive parliamentary sessions until the election of a president. They also urged all parliamentary blocs to participate in this essential constitutional process.
The Maronite bishops noted that, as many specialists have observed, certain parties have been continuing to selectively exercise discretion over the allocation of tax revenues and fees, undermining the principle of justice in distributing rights among Lebanese citizens, as well as failing to ensure that financial obligations include all regions and social groups. They appealed to the government to rectify this unacceptable anomaly, as stipulated by the Lebanese constitution.
Regarding official elections, the statement concluded: "The bishops convey to the authorities their dissatisfaction with the irregularities and ambiguities in the process of conducting official examinations and their results, which have recurred in previous years and this year as well. They warn those concerned that this primarily impacts the students and does not assist them in assuming a leading role in the future, significantly harming the concepts of education and teaching, which have been known for their leadership in Lebanon for generations."
