Pope Leo XIV urges Lebanese leaders to overcome political divisions and act as peacemakers amid Israel tensions.
The visit highlights Lebanon’s Christian community and its religious freedom amid Middle East crises.
Pope Francis’s long-planned Lebanon visit is fulfilled through Leo XIV’s maiden papal journey.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Beirut on Sunday, urging Lebanon's political leaders to rise above divisions and act as peacemakers, according to PTI. His visit, the second leg of his maiden papal journey after Istanbul, comes at a time of deep political uncertainty, economic instability, and fears of renewed conflict with Israel.
The pope sought to deliver a message of hope to the Lebanese people, encouraging perseverance amid years of crises that have left the small Mediterranean nation vulnerable. PTI reported that his visit also aims to bolster Lebanon's significant Christian community, which continues to exercise religious freedom and political influence despite challenges.
Recognition of Lebanon’s Religious Pluralism
Lebanon remains an exception in the Middle East, where hundreds of thousands of Christians have left other countries in the region due to wars and the rise of extremist groups, according to PTI. Pope Leo XIV’s visit acknowledges Lebanon’s religious pluralism and is intended as a message to Christians not to abandon the region.
The trip also fulfills a promise by Pope Francis, who had long intended to visit Lebanon but was unable to due to the country’s ongoing crises and his declining health. By visiting Lebanon, Leo XIV highlights the strategic and symbolic importance of the Christian community in the Middle East and the role of faith in sustaining societal cohesion.
(With inputs from PTI)
