Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi called on politicians on Sunday to form an all-embracing government, hold the presidential elections on time and agree on a vote law as Catholic Patriarchs headed to Rome to meet with the pope.

“Lebanon's cause is our cause,” al-Rahi told reporters at Rafik Hariri International Airport before boarding his plane.

Politicians “should put their personal interests aside and work for the public good,” he said.

“It is not shameful for us in Lebanon to have ties with other countries, mainly regional states,” he said. “But it is shameful not to have a national will.”

Asked about a condition imposed by the March 14 alliance for the formation of the new cabinet, al-Rahi said: “There is a single essential condition, which is holding the presidential elections and resolving all the pending issues in the country.” [Link]