Beirut (AsiaNews) – On Christmas Day, the Lebanese saw Maronite Patriarch Nassrallah Sfeir urge Lebanese President Émile Lahoud to "fully assume his responsibilities", Greek-Orthodox Metropolitan Elias Awde appeal to the international community not to forsake the country, and Maronite Archbishop of Beirut Paul Matar invite everyone to dialogue.

In the midst of its ongoing crisis, Lebanon cautiously paused for Christmas celebrations, still fearful of car bombs which have already caused fear, silence and death.

This year's Christmas was different from last year's—on the one hand, the economic crisis is worsening; on the other, the developing political situation is increasingly worrisome.

Very few people still speak about last February 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, especially after the resignation of German judge Detlev Mehlis as head of the international commission of inquiry and the adoption of UN Resolution 1644.

Maronite Patriarch, Card Nasrallah Sfeir, who is the only point of reference for all the Lebanese, presided over Christmas Day mass at the See of the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke. President Émile Lahoud was present. Before the mass he held a one-hour meeting with the Patriarch.

The Patriarch pronounced a very meaningful homely, which many observers see as a new step since in it he urged President Lahoud to fully assume his responsibilities in relation to calls for his resignation. Sfeir also called attention to the need to respect the constitution without fear of anyone.

Mgr Elias Awde, Greek-orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut, launched during mass an appeal to the international community to assume its responsibilities vis-à-vis Lebanon and end the situation that is afflicting the country.

Mgr Paul Matar, Maronite archbishop of Beirut, celebrated mass in St-Georges Cathedral downtown Beirut. The building itself was rebuilt after the war.

During the ceremony he renewed his confidence in Lebanon's spiritual wealth, a land of dialogue and tolerance, and asked everyone to begin conversion that would give each Lebanese its true identity.

Abbot Semaan Abou-Abdou, superior general of the Maronite Mariamite Order, presided over mass at the Church of Our Lady at Lwaize-Zouk, north of Beirut. During the function he repeated the Patriarch's words condemning violence and called attention to the need for inter-Lebanese solidarity in order for the country to come out of the crisis.

The Lebanese celebrated Christmas in cold weather and snow not seen in recent history. Many chose to spend the holidays in prayer and silence… like 2000 years ago in Bethlehem.