Pope Leo XIV Concludes Lebanon Visit with Broad Appeal for Peace and Responsibility

Table of Contents

 

BEIRUT – Pope Leo XIV ended his visit to Lebanon with a powerful message urging global leaders and communities to adopt dialogue and compassion as the primary tools for resolving conflicts. The trip, which marked his first official journey abroad since becoming pontiff, highlighted his intention to place peacebuilding and interfaith cooperation at the center of his leadership.

During a farewell ceremony at Beirut’s main airport, the Pope emphasized that a cycle of retaliation and armed confrontation only deepens wounds that societies have struggled with for decades. He stated that peace must be treated as a continuous process that requires patience, courage, and moral responsibility from political leaders as well as ordinary citizens. According to him, Lebanon’s long history of coexistence offers an important reminder that unity is possible even in the midst of hardship.

His schedule in Lebanon included meetings with Christian, Muslim, and Druze representatives. At a large interfaith gathering held in the heart of the capital, he praised local faith leaders for maintaining cooperation despite economic, political, and social crises. The Pope called the gathering a symbol of solidarity that the world desperately needs at a time when divisions—both ideological and religious—are growing across multiple regions.

One of the most emotional moments of the trip occurred when Pope Leo visited the site of the 2020 port explosion in Beirut. There, he spent several minutes in silent prayer before speaking with families who lost loved ones in the disaster. He underscored the need for justice and truth, adding that any healing process must begin with accountability and a commitment from authorities to address unresolved grievances.

In remarks to journalists traveling with him, the Pope also addressed rising tensions in Venezuela. He urged the United States and other nations to refrain from seeking political change through military intervention, warning that such actions historically produce instability and harm civilians first. He advocated instead for negotiations, international mediation, and sustained humanitarian engagement as more ethical and effective approaches to resolving political crises.

The Pope stressed that while political disagreements can be intense, they should never justify the abandonment of human dignity. He emphasized that the suffering of Venezuelan citizens—marked by economic collapse, displacement, and shortages—should be the primary concern of governments and international institutions.

Before departing Lebanon, Pope Leo reiterated that peace cannot be imposed; it must be built through relationships, compassion, and an understanding of shared humanity. He expressed hope that Lebanon’s resilience, despite years of hardship, could inspire other nations experiencing conflict or deep political divides. “Let this country be a workshop of peace,” he declared, “where differences do not lead to hatred, but to dialogue that builds a stable and just future.”