Lebanon’s al-Rahi urges politicians to resign

Lebanon’s most prominent Christian leader has hit out at the country’s politicians, urging them to follow in the footsteps of Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned last week after admitting he could no longer perform his duties. During his sermon on Sunday, Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, head of the Lebanese Maronite church, questioned the ability of many politicians currently running Lebanon, claiming that the country is "paralysed by a political crisis". He accused the country’s leaders of failing to reach a consensus on laws governing elections – a move which he said is “ending the last vestige of democracy, in favour of the circulation of power.”   "How we wish that our political officials had Pope Benedict's responsible professional conscience. We ask them in the name of their consciences, can you perform the massive duties with which you were entrusted?" said al-Rahi.  The Maronite leader accused the politicians of failing in their duty to tackle poverty, declining education, kidnappings for ransom and the widespread availability of illegal weapons. Al-Rahi called for an end to the violence in Syria, pointing to recent figures which put the number Syrian refugees at 305,000 – many of whom fled to Lebanon. "Do our officials wonder about Lebanon's social, security, demographic, political and cultural fate in light of this displacement? Must Lebanon bear the brunt of the war in Syria? How can our country steel itself to face this war and this displacement?" he said.