The Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi, in a speech he delivered at the opening of the spiritual exercise of the Synod of Bishops in the Maronite Church, hoped that “peace will come to the countries of the Middle East.”

He said: “We pray for Lebanon’s stability and its exit from its political, economic, living and security crises, and we hope to form a new government as soon as possible, to be able to carry out its duties as a procedural authority.”

He added, “We hope that a new president of the republic will be elected within the two months preceding the end of the current president’s term in accordance with the constitution, so that the new president will be able to steer the nation’s ship wisely and knowledgeably amid the raging waves.”