Pontiff's Forceful Appeal for Peace
Pope Leo XIV has issued a powerful appeal for peace, directly addressing Lebanon's political and religious leaders during his inaugural overseas trip as the head of the Catholic Church. Speaking from the presidential palace in Beirut on 30 November 2025, the Pontiff made peace his central theme, using the word more than twenty times in his address to a chamber filled with the nation's most influential figures.
A Message Amidst Conflict
The Pope's visit comes as Lebanon continues to face the devastating spillover from the war in Gaza, with Israeli airstrikes posing a persistent threat. Arriving from a four-day visit to Turkey, where he condemned violence in the name of religion, Pope Leo began his speech with the words of Jesus: “Blessed are the peacemakers.” He acknowledged the “highly complex, conflictual and uncertain” regional situation but insisted that Lebanese leaders must persevere with peace efforts, stating that “the commitment and love for peace know no fear in the face of apparent defeat.”
The speech was attended by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, alongside religious heads from Lebanon's many sects. President Aoun echoed the sombre mood, stating, “In our country and in our region there is much anguish and many people in pain,” while highlighting Lebanon as a nation “where Christians and Muslims live, different but equal.”
Public Hope and Regional Tensions
Hours before the Pontiff's arrival, crowds lined the routes from the airport, waving both Lebanese and Vatican flags in a display of hope. For a country hosting 1 million Syrian and Palestinian refugees and struggling to recover from a severe economic crisis, the visit was a moment of significant anticipation. Randa Sahyoun, a Lebanese woman who travelled from Qatar for the event, expressed a common sentiment: “We want him to plant peace in the hearts of politicians so that we can live a comfortable life in Lebanon.”
The nation, which has the largest share of Christians in the Middle East, is deeply concerned about a potential dramatic escalation of Israeli strikes. Israel justifies its ongoing military actions as necessary to prevent the Shia Muslim militant group Hezbollah from re-establishing its military capabilities. Notably, Hezbollah’s most senior member of parliament, Mohammad Raad, attended the Pope's speech, and the group's leader, Naim Qassem, had previously expressed hope that the visit would help end Israeli attacks.
Pope Leo, the first US pope who was a relative unknown before his election in May, is now under intense international scrutiny. His crowded itinerary in Lebanon includes visits to five cities and towns from Sunday to Tuesday, though he will not travel to the heavily targeted south and did not mention Israel by name in his address.
