Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi rejected on Sunday violence and the killing of children in regional countries, saying any attack on the lives of people is a crime before God.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi rejected on Sunday violence and the killing of children in regional countries, saying any attack on the lives of people is a crime before God, local Naharnet news website reported.

“Any assault on the life of any person is a crime before God,” al-Rahi said in his sermon during a mass in his summer seat in Diman.

“Christianity totally rejects violence, war and murder,” he said, adding “the church raises its denunciation voice to all what’s happening in the countries of this region in terms of violence, war and the spread of arms and money for that purpose.”

His sermon came as Muslims across the world celebrated Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth on the Islamic calendar.