President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday lauded “the efforts exerted by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi to preserve the free Christian presence in the Levant as a message of culture, interaction and dialogue that has characterized this region throughout the ages,” stressing the importance of “his support for democracy away from unilateralism, violence and extremism.”

Following talks with Patriarchal Vicar General Roland Abu Jaoude and a group of bishops, Suleiman said: “We support what the patriarch is doing at the level of the church and its renewal and concerning his keenness on minorities in general and especially the Christian minority.” [Source]