Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi called on Lebanese during a mass service marking the anniversary of the catastrophic blast that destroyed swathes of the capital, to elect the right people in the Parliamentary elections, especially that the Members of the Parliament will elect the President of the Republic.

Rahi said: “Trust and believe in God, for God loves you, suffers with you, lives in you, and eases your sorrows; on the fourth of last August, Jesus was on the cross with us, and today he calls us to resurrection.”

Rahi added: “Our victims are valuable and our capital as well, and the real cost is their blood mixed with the blood of Christ, who redeemed us with generous blood, and this is the most precious price ever paid by our martyrs and their families.”

He added that Pope Francis’ speech comes this morning to heal the wounds of the families of the victims, the wounded and the afflicted, and all of the Lebanese. On this day, he said, “Today I appeal to the international community, to help Lebanon with practical actions and initiatives, and not just with words.”

Rahi said: “Justice isn’t just the demand of the families of the victims but of all Lebanese.”

“We want to know who brought in the explosives…, who allowed for their unloading…, who withdrew quantities (of explosives) from it and where it was sent.”

“Since we are strong in truth and justice, we are here to declare loyalty to Beirut by rebuilding it with its beauty and heritage,” he said.

Rahi said that everyone was called to testify shall appear before the judiciary without pretexts and arguments and without waiting for immunity to be lifted. “All immunities fall before the blood of victims and martyrs, and there is no immunity against justice.”

Rahi appealed to the protesters to avoid violence, abusive expressions, attacks on public and private institutions and properties, and not to assault the army and security forces.

Rahi added: “Our demand is truth and justice, and the land will remain in turmoil in this spot until we know what happened in Beirut port; the state does not owe it to the families of the victims only, but to every Lebanese, to the Lebanese generations, to history, the future, and the conscience.”

Rahi said: “We came here to pray for Beirut, where religions meet, and we stand together humbled amid the destruction.”

Rahi called on the judiciary to punish the guilty and release the innocent; it is shameful that officials escaped the probe under the pretext of immunity, and the people do not want petitions, but rather facts.”

Rahi also called on officials to form a government of salvation and reform, but unfortunately, nobody is listening, as if no people are starving, no port has exploded, and no country is collapsing.

He also called for organizing an international conference declaring Lebanon’s neutrality and affirming Lebanon’s desire to change through the democratic system and the peaceful civilized revolution; the port blast has united us.