Pope in Lebanon: Blessed are the peacemakers

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Source: Vatican Media

As Pope Leo XIV arrived at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut on Sunday afternoon, where he was welcomed by the president Joseph Aoun, for the start ot his Apostolic Journey to Lebanon, broadcasters report that church bells rang out across the country. Crowds lined the streets to greet him as he was driven to the Presidential Palace for a meeting with Lebanon's civil authorities, representatives of civil society, and the diplomatic corps. giving his first speech on Lebanese soil.

In his first speech on Lebanese soil the Pope focussed on the central theme of his journey: 'Blessed are the peacemakers' . The Holy Father underlined that peace in Lebanon is not simply an aspiration, but a daily necessity rooted in the country's complex social fabric and ongoing challenges.

He reminded Lebanon's leaders that peace in their country is not an abstraction but "a desire and a vocation" that must be built daily.

Highlighting the perseverance of the Lebanese people, the Pope noted that they "do not give up" even in the face of hardship.

He described this resilience as a foundation for rebuilding and moving forward, adding that it is essential for those responsible for shaping Lebanon's future.

Calling on leaders to remain closely connected to their people, especially the younger generations, he urged them to speak "the language of hope," which has enabled Lebanon "always to start again."

Pope Leo went on to emphasise that sustainable peace requires confronting past wounds, insisting that reconciliation must be pursued with patience and honesty.

"There are personal and collective wounds that take many years, sometimes entire generations, to heal," he said.

He stressed that truth and reconciliation "only ever grow together," and warned against remaining "imprisoned by our own pain and our own way of thinking."

Institutions, he added, must prioritise the common good, which he described as "more than the sum of many interests."

The Holy Father went on to speak about the ongoing emigration of young people, acknowledging the uncertainty and difficulty that drive many to leave.

He emphasised that while the Lebanese diaspora brings many benefits, "the Church does not want anyone to be forced to leave their country."

He underscored the need for conditions that allow young people to stay and build their future at home, and he invited Lebanon to avoid both "sectionalism" and "nationalism."

Quoting Fratelli tutti, he reminded leaders of the importance of holding together both local identity and global openness, noting that these are "two inseparable and equally vital poles in every society."

Recognising the contributions of women to society, the Pope said women possess a "special capacity for peace-making," rooted in their ability to support and strengthen bonds within society. Their participation, he said, is a "factor of true renewal."

Young people who remain or return to Lebanon, he added, contribute decisively to ensuring that the country "may once again be a land full of life."

Concluding his address, Pope Leo XIV reminded those present that peace requires active commitment from leaders and institutions alike.

Dialogue, even amid disagreement, he said, "is the path that leads to reconciliation."

After the meeting with Lebanon's civil authorities, Pope Leo XIV travelled to the Monastery of the Carmelite Sisters of the Theotokos in Harissa. According to the Holy See Press Office, the Pope greeted each sister individually before receiving the greeting of the superiors of the two communities.

Addressing the nuns, he recalled three words at the heart of their contemplative vocation: humility, prayer and sacrifice.

The encounter lasted around half-an-hour and concluded with the recitation of the Our Father, and Pope Leo imparted his Apostolic Blessing on the contemplative Carmelite nuns.

LINKS

Read Pope Leo's address to the civil authorities:
www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/speeches/2025/november/documents/20251130-libano-autorita.html

See Vatican Media's Youtube video of the event: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkdhLagl5j0