Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai stressed “justice must be characterized by mercy,” adding that the root cause leading to the rise in crime in Lebanon must be addressed, including poverty, social injustice and deprivation.
During Maundy Thursday Mass held at Roumieh prison -Lebanon's largest penitentiary- Patriarch Rai called for “securing job opportunities for inmates, so they can lead a crime-free life with dignity and provide for their families.”
Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) is observed during the Holy Week, an occasion to remember Jesus Christ's last supper on the Thursday before Easter.
During the holy mass on Maundy Thursday, Christians around the world recall the events of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and passed around bread and wine, establishing the ceremony known as the Eucharist.