Pope Leo urges peace in Israeli strikes-hit Lebanon

BEIRUT, Lebanon (MNTV) — Pope Leo XIV called on Lebanon’s political leadership to place peace above all other priorities as the country faces ongoing Israeli airstrikes and the broader fallout of regional conflict. 

His remarks came during the second leg of his inaugural overseas trip as pontiff, following a four-day visit to Turkey.

The U.S.-born pope arrived in Beirut amid heightened security and public anticipation, warning that the global surge in violent conflicts threatens humanity’s collective future. 

Addressing senior political and religious leaders gathered at the presidential palace, he opened with the biblical invocation “blessed are the peacemakers,” signaling the overarching theme of his trip.

Lebanon, home to one of the Middle East’s largest Christian populations, has been deeply affected by the Gaza war spillover, with Israeli strikes escalating tension along the southern border, despite a year old truce. 

In recent months, the country has endured a renewed cycle of bombardment as Israel hits Lebanese territory with everyday strikes.

President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam joined representatives from multiple sects to welcome the pope, underscoring Lebanon’s pluralistic identity. 

Aoun said the nation remained one “where Christians and Muslims live, different but equal,” emphasizing the collective burden of conflict on Lebanese society. 

In his address, Pope Leo acknowledged the country’s “highly complex, conflictual, and uncertain” environment, urging leaders to protect social cohesion and resist despair.

Crowds lined the roads despite heavy rain, waving Vatican and Lebanese flags as the pontiff traveled in an enclosed popemobile to the palace. 

Many expressed hope that his visit would push political leaders toward compromise after years of stagnation and economic deterioration. 

“We want him to plant peace in the hearts of politicians so that we can live comfortably again,” said Randa Sahyoun, a Lebanese expatriate who returned from Qatar for the visit.

Lebanese officials remain increasingly concerned that Israel could intensify military strikes in the coming months, particularly as the country struggles with the compounded pressures of economic collapse and hosting nearly one million Syrian and Palestinian refugees. 

Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem said he hoped the papal trip would help curb Israeli attacks, while senior Hezbollah lawmaker Mohammad Raad attended Leo’s remarks in a rare show of cross-sect engagement.

Lebanon’s religious diversity also shaped the welcome. Sheikh Sami Abi al-Muna, a leading Druze cleric, described the visit as a “glimmer of hope” for a nation facing deep uncertainty. 

Pope Leo, largely unknown on the global stage before his election in May, is receiving close international attention as he delivers his first public engagements outside Italy.

The pontiff, 70, has scheduled visits to five cities and towns through Tuesday, though he will avoid southern areas targeted by Israeli strikes. 

His itinerary includes a prayer service at Beirut’s port, the site of the catastrophic 2020 chemical explosion that killed more than 200 people and caused billions in damage. 

He is also set to celebrate an open-air Mass along the city’s waterfront and tour a psychiatric hospital, one of Lebanon’s few mental-health institutions.

Despite the weight of geopolitical concerns, Pope Leo emphasized that peace requires persistence even when prospects appear dim. “Commitment to peace knows no fear in the face of apparent defeat,” he said, urging Lebanese leaders to resist the paralysis of conflict fatigue.

The visit, marked by symbolism and careful diplomatic balance, comes as regional actors watch for any shift the pope might bring to interfaith dialogue or conflict mediation. 

While he did not address Israel directly in his speech, Lebanese observers said the message was unmistakably aimed at urging restraint across all fronts.