Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Beshara Rahi, officiated over a New Year's mass service in presence of representative of President Michel Aoun, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Pierre Raffoul, and MP Simon Abi Ramya representing House Speaker Nabih Berri. 

During the mass service, Patriarch Rahi felicitated President Aoun and Speaker Berri on the New Year by saying "through them we salute the Lebanese State which has regained its Constitutional Institutions and looks towards building a state of law that is capable and productive, a state of economic development and financial stability." 

"Peace does not fit with violence and peace can't be reached by extorting violence," Rahi said inspired by Pope Francis's message on New Year's.  

Source:NNA