Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged Lebanese politicians on Sunday to put their differences aside and deal with the country’s economic and social problems.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged Lebanese politicians on Sunday to put their differences aside and deal with the country’s economic and social problems.

In his sermon, al-Rahi said: “The political leadership in Lebanon should preserve the backbone that guarantees the Lebanese entity’s strong presence … its economic growth.”

“It should come out of political bickering and put political work in the service of economic and social issues,” he said.

The patriarch also urged officials to come up with an economic development plan that would encourage partnership between the public and private sectors, reform the National Social Security Fund, organize public transport and in addition to other things lure investors and capital.

Al-Rahi reiterated that Lebanese sects should help their followers become “Lebanese citizens first” before affiliating themselves with their confessions.

Each sect should be an added value to build the Lebanese society, he said.