BEIRUT 

Lebanon's Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi and Mufti Abdullatif Derian called Tuesday on Muslims and Christians to dedicate the upcoming Friday and Sunday prayers for peace in the country.

Following a meeting of Christian and Muslim leaders at the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerké, north of Beirut, al-Rahi said, “We are pleased with this meeting” and stressed "the importance of prayer for peace and the end of wars.”

The meeting did not include any Shia representatives, but it was attended by Druze leader Sami Abi Al-Muna, Alawite Council President Ali Khodr, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and various Lebanese political figures.

“We call on all Christians to dedicate the coming Sunday to be a day of prayer for the restoration of peace in southern Lebanon and Gaza.”

Mufti Derian also announced dedicating the sermon of next Friday's prayer for the people of Gaza and southern Lebanon, and “to support the oppressed."

Cardinal Parolin stressed the need to “preserve the Lebanese model of coexistence” and expressed hope for “the cooperation of all to find exits from the (political) crisis in Lebanon.”

Tensions have soared along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 37,700 people since last Oct. 7.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio