Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi confirmed that citizens are disgruntled from politicians because they are still busy with minor and insignificant matters of quotas and portfolios and obstruct the available political, living, and educational solutions.”

During his Sunday sermon, Al-Rahi called on “the judiciary to pursue monopolists and smugglers away from political, and sectarian pressures.”

He added: “We encourage security forces to expand raids, close border crossings, and prevent smuggling, as every administrative measure remains ineffective unless the crossings are closed.”

Al-Rahi said that Lebanon needs reconciliation, especially among officials.

He added: “It has become the duty of the country’s leaders, parties and popular movement to consult among themselves and meet in order to take national decisions and decide the necessary steps to push the state to change its performance before the great collapse that will not save anyone.

With regard to the investigations into the Beirut Port explosion, he said: “We are against politicizing the probe, and obstructing it, and against excluding anyone from interrogation, and against converting the investigative judge to an accused.”

Al-Rahi said: “We are keen to respect the shrines and references, but the tense atmosphere does not tolerate more strain and opening side battles.”

He called for expediting the formation of a rescue government that is up to the challenges, neutral, non-partisan and non-partisan, and consists of highly qualified people.