Beirut Metropolitan Bishop Elias Audi called Monday for immunizing Lebanon against divisions, aggression, quotas and deals.

Audi's words came as he presided over Christmas Mass at St. George Cathedral in Ashrafieh.

"God has given us a beautiful homeland, but we have not realized its importance nor did we preserve it as it should be," Audi said, noting that Lebanon is a nation for all its sons regardless of their sects and affiliations.

"We are all called upon to exert relentless efforts to rebuild a free and independent Lebanon, characterized by its democracy and far from narrow interests," he asserted.

Bishop Audi concluded his sermon by stressing that "Lebanon must regain its role as the capital of culture, peace, tolerance, dialogue and liberty...freedom of expression, justice, rejection of violence and extremism, respect for diversity, modernism and creativity

Source: NNA