Pope Leo's Lebanon Visit Highlights Call for Peace and Unity

Post by : Mina Rahman

Pope Leo, the first pontiff born in the US, touched down in Lebanon on Sunday following a four-day trip to Turkey, expressing serious concerns over humanity's future due to the escalating violence plaguing the world, particularly condemning religiously motivated conflicts.

As the pope's motorcade made its way from the airport to the presidential palace, enthusiastic crowds waving Lebanese and Vatican banners greeted him. During his stay, he plans to meet with Lebanon's president and prime minister, marking just his second public address to a foreign government.

Lebanon, which has the largest Christian demographic in the Middle East, is currently grappling with the ramifications of the Gaza conflict. Tensions have heightened due to ongoing clashes between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, further complicated by the nation's economic crises and the presence of over a million displaced Syrian and Palestinian refugees.

Israeli officials assert that recent military actions are aimed at curtailing Hezbollah’s military capabilities, while Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, expressed hope that the pope's visit might contribute to a cessation of Israeli incursions. The visit has generally been welcomed by Lebanon's diverse communities, with Druze cleric Sheikh Sami Abi al-Muna calling it "a glimmer of hope" for the nation.

Security measures were heightened prior to Leo’s arrival, involving deployments from both the Lebanese army and internal security forces at the airport. His convoy will journey through Beirut’s southern suburbs—an area known for Hezbollah's influence and the site of last year’s military strikes—where a roadside welcome ceremony will be conducted by the group’s Imam Mehdi Scouts.

During initial engagements abroad, Pope Leo has already visited Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, where he showed respect by removing his shoes, and attended an Orthodox Christian service led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who encouraged Christians to communicate a unified message of hope and denounce global violence, including ongoing wars in Ukraine.

In Lebanon, the 70-year-old pontiff will travel across five cities and towns from Sunday through Tuesday, deliberately steering clear of southern areas affected by Israeli airstrikes. His itinerary features a prayer at the site of the devastating 2020 Beirut port explosion, an outdoor Mass by the waterfront, and a visit to a local psychiatric hospital where staff and patients eagerly await his presence.