Beirut Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elias Audi considered that “the ambitions of officials, rulers and leaders, and the ambitions of outsiders, have weakened Lebanon’s immunity.”
In his Sunday homily, the archbishop mentioned that “leaders and rulers failed to fortify [Lebanon] against envy, hatred, greed and division, and against foreign interventions and diversions that harmed the country’s unity,” which led to the disappointment of the people and their divisions. He added that the absence of a president lost the country its “role, prestige and control over its situation.”
He emphasized, “Here we must express our deep regret at the campaign that targeted the security measures taken by the Ministry of Interior to suppress violations and curb the chaos invading the streets.”
“When the government does not do its job, it is criticized, and when it wakes up to its duties, it is confronted,” he commented.
“Mismanagement and miscalculation, prioritizing foreign interests over domestic ones, not adhering to the constitution, and not electing a president to take control of the situation have increased its fragility,” Audi continued.
He also added that Lebanon is “dislocated, languishing under the weight of political, social, economic, moral and security issues, and the list goes on,” referring to “war, assassinations, arms smuggling, security lapses, the promise of a hot summer, crimes, drugs and other scourges,” considering that “the hollowing out of institutions, the obstruction of the a presidential election and the exchange of accusations weigh the Lebanese down, and make their already burdened life difficult for them.”
