Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stressed on Monday the importance of launching dialogue with Muslims amid the developments in the region. “We are looking forward to cooperate and launch dialogue with the Muslims … We are reaching for them to overcome challenges and difficulties in the East,” al-Rahi said at the opening of the Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops Council in its 45th annual meeting.

He stated that the youth are the hope of the church and the future of the Lebanese community.

“We hope upon our politicians to train the youth on how to act responsibly towards the nation, and involve them in the public administrations, army and the security forces,” al-Rahi said.

Concerning the turmoil in the region and the Arab world, the Patriarch said that the Christians are seeking to hold a spiritual summit to consolidate relations and reject violence. He stressed on the importance of “rejecting violence” and called for unity among the Arabs, so that the uprisings lead to positive reforms politically, socially and at the level of the economy.