Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi led Sunday a gathering of prayer and fasting in response to the call of Pope Francis who declared a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria.
The representative of the President of the Republic, former minister Salim Karam attended the mass. The apostolic nuncio Grabriel Caccia also relayed a message from Pope Francis.
The Patriarch said in his sermon that prayer is not intended to ensure the victory of one party over another in Syria, stressing that "we pray for the cessation of violence and war...No one has the right to kill a human being or assault another person's life."
"God and history will condemn any person who assaults another human being and encourages war," he added.
"Only the Pope calls for a political solution in Syria. Only the Pope calls for dialogue and raises the voice against the war," he said.
The prelate finally called for the release of hostages in Syria, including the two kidnapped bishops of Aleppo.