Pope Leo brings peace mission to Lebanon as Israeli strikes continue

BEIRUT AP Pope Leo XIV called on Lebanon’s political leaders on Sunday to set aside their divisions and pursue genuine reconciliation as he brought a message of hope to a nation battered by economic collapse, political paralysis and ongoing Israeli airstrikes.

Leo arrived in Beirut from Istanbul on the second leg of his first foreign trip as pontiff. His visit aims to encourage the Lebanese people at a precarious moment and to support a historically significant Christian community in the Middle East.

The trip fulfills a long standing promise of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who had hoped to visit Lebanon but was ultimately prevented by the country’s overlapping crises and his own health issues.

Deep Divisions and Lingering Trauma

Lebanon’s sectarian power sharing system has long been vulnerable to deadlock, producing chronic political stalemates and lengthy leadership vacuums. The country remains sharply divided over the stalled investigation into the devastating 2020 Beirut port explosion, as well as over demands for Hezbollah to disarm following last year’s war with Israel.

Leo did not explicitly mention the recent conflict or the weapons debate during his speech at the presidential palace. He instead acknowledged the hardships that have strained Lebanese society.

“You have suffered greatly from the consequences of an economy that kills, from global instability that has devastating repercussions also in the Levant, and from the radicalization of identities and conflicts,” he said. “But you have always wanted, and known how, to start again.”

The pope urged leaders to seek truth, pursue accountability and engage in reconciliation with those who have endured injustice. True peace, he said, requires leaders who put aside personal interests and recognize the common good.

One of the most symbolic moments of his trip will come Tuesday, when he prays silently at the site of the August 4, 2020 port explosion, which killed more than 200 people and caused billions of dollars in damage.

The pope arrived amid tight security, one week after an Israeli strike in Beirut killed five people, including a senior Hezbollah official. His plane was escorted by a Lebanese military jet before touching down at the Beirut airport, where he was greeted by President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

Leo traveled through the capital in a closed popemobile as troops lined the streets and a helicopter patrolled overhead. Rain poured as a troupe performed the traditional dabke dance at the entrance to the presidential palace.

For many Lebanese, his presence alone carried meaning.

“It shows that Lebanon is not forgotten,” said Bishop George, archbishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut.

In Turkey, Leo had commemorated an important Christian anniversary. In Lebanon, he focused on encouraging citizens who feel abandoned by political leaders and on urging Christians to remain in their homeland or consider returning.

Lebanon, a Muslim majority country where roughly one third of the population is Christian, has long held a special place for the Vatican. Years of conflict have pushed many Christian families to emigrate in search of safety or stability.

“Much good can come” from the Lebanese diaspora, Leo said, but he stressed the value of staying and “working day by day to develop a civilization of love and peace.”

President Aoun reaffirmed the resolve of Lebanon’s Christians. “We will not die. We will not leave, we will not despair, and we will not surrender,” he said.

Despite a United States brokered ceasefire last year that ended a two month war between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli airstrikes continue almost daily. Israel says they are meant to prevent the group from rebuilding. The war killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and left wide destruction.

“The pope is coming for the sake of peace,” said Beirut resident Farah Saadeh. “We hope nothing is going to happen after his departure.”

Before Leo’s arrival, Hezbollah urged him to denounce “injustice and aggression” from Israel. Hundreds of supporters gathered along the papal convoy route, waving Lebanese and Vatican flags.

Mounir Younes, leader of a Hezbollah affiliated scout troop, said they wanted to highlight “the importance of coexistence and national unity.”

Across the border in Syria, years of civil war have forced hundreds of thousands of Christians to flee. About 300 Syrian Christians traveled to Lebanon to join the pope’s youth gathering and attend an open air Mass on the Beirut waterfront.

“We are in need of someone like the pope to come and give us hope as Christians,” said Dima Awwad, 24. “We wish that the pope would visit Syria, to reassure the people and show that we are present as eastern Christians who need to remain in this place.”