Pope Leo XIV alongside the Lebanese president on Nov. 30, 2025 (Credit: AFP)
Pope Leo XIV urges Lebanon to embrace peace, reconciliation, hope
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Pope Leo XIV delivered his first address from the Presidential Palace in Baabda after arriving in Beirut, sending a strong message to Lebanese officials and citizens. He described the nation as “a people who do not give up, but a people who know how to rise again.”
He called on the nation to prioritize peace and unity amid complex challenges. Addressing officials, the Holy Father reflected on the theme of his visit: “Blessed are the peacemakers!”
He praised Lebanon as “a land where ‘peace’ is much more than just a word; for here peace is a desire and a vocation; it is a gift and a work in progress.”
Read more: Pope Leo XIV arrives in Beirut for 48-hour visit
The Pope highlighted the resilience of the Lebanese people, describing them as “a people who do not give up, but in the face of trials, always know how to rise again with courage.” He emphasized that true peacemakers “know how to start over” and pursue reconciliation even in the face of historical wounds and ongoing conflicts.
Pope Leo XIV encouraged authorities to work for the common good, explaining that “peace is much more than a mere balance – which is always precarious – among those who live separately while under the same roof. Peace is knowing how to live together, in communion, as reconciled people.”
He also called for Lebanon’s young people to remain engaged in their homeland, asking, “How can we encourage them not to seek peace elsewhere, but to find guarantees of peace and become protagonists in their own native land?”
The Pope highlighted the crucial role of women and youth in peacebuilding, noting that women “have a special capacity for peacemaking, because they know how to cherish and strengthen the profound bonds with life, people, and places.”
Reflecting on Lebanon’s rich cultural heritage, Pope Leo XIV said music and dance are “a language of joy and communion,” which can inspire the nation to embrace peace as “a journey inspired by the Spirit, and causes our hearts to listen, making them more attentive and respectful towards others.”
He concluded by offering his prayers for Lebanon, stating, “Please be assured of my prayers, and those of the whole Church, for your delicate service to the common good.”
