Pope Leo XIV urged Lebanese authorities to prioritize peace during his visit to Beirut. The Pope emphasized that peacemaking should be the primary goal for those in positions of power. His visit comes amid a fragile ceasefire and ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. Pope Leo XIV met with Lebanese leaders, including the President, Speaker of Parliament, and Prime Minister. The Pope's call for peace is particularly significant given the current geopolitical climate and the risk of renewed conflict.
14 days ago
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Beirut on November 30, 2025, marking the second leg of his first international apostolic journey, following a stop in Turkey.1 He was welcomed by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, where ceremonies included a traditional dabke dance and the planting of a "cedar of friendship."4 The visit fulfills a long-held desire of his predecessor, Pope Francis, to reach Lebanon amid its fragile peace.1
The pontiff's trip, themed "Blessed are the peacemakers," underscores Lebanon's role as a model of interfaith coexistence in the Middle East.1 In the Book of Honor, Leo wrote of his hopes for peace to reign over the nation.1 Security concerns were downplayed earlier, with the pope quipping about the visit's safety during a meeting with Jordan's royals.1
In his address to civil authorities, diplomatic corps, and civil society, Pope Leo XIV called on leaders to prioritize peace "above all else," describing it as both a divine gift and a daily task requiring tenacity.1 2 He highlighted Lebanon's vocation for peacemaking amid global pessimism and local instability, including an "economy that kills" and radicalized conflicts.1 Peace, he said, demands perseverance, especially in a diverse society where hope unites communities.2
The speech emphasized that authentic peacemakers rise after trials, fostering reconciliation over factionalism.3 Leo urged institutions to serve the common good beyond private interests, warning against decisions by a "select few" that harm the many.1 Hezbollah's pre-visit letter praised Lebanon's sectarian diversity as a "civilizational bridge" and called on the pope to condemn Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon.1
Reconciliation emerged as a core theme, with the pope stressing the need to heal personal and collective wounds that span generations.2 Without addressing injustices and facilitating encounters, societies remain "imprisoned by our own pain," he noted, advocating dialogue even in disagreement as the path forward.4 Truth and reconciliation must grow together to build a future where good prevails over past evils.2
Lebanon's confessional system—allocating roles like president to Maronites, prime minister to Sunnis, and parliament speaker to Shiites—was implicitly affirmed as a framework for shared life.1 The pope lamented how greed, domination, and force erode human rights, echoing Hezbollah's critique of international failures to uphold diversity.1 He called for rejecting foreign interference that undermines national sovereignty.1
Pope Leo XIV expressed sorrow over the emigration of youth and families fleeing violence, poverty, and uncertainty, viewing it as a loss despite the diaspora's benefits.2 The Church, he said, laments forced departures and supports safe returns, urging religious and civil actors to raise global awareness.1 Remaining or returning to Lebanon demands "courage and foresight," contributing to a "civilization of love and peace."1
He praised women's "special capacity for peacemaking" through their bonds with life and communities, positioning them as agents of renewal.4 Youth, meanwhile, must speak "the language of hope" to ensure Lebanon becomes "a land full of life," balancing local identity with global openness as in Fratelli tutti.2 Leaders were encouraged to stay connected to these groups, avoiding sectarianism or narrow nationalism.2
The visit occurs against a backdrop of fragile ceasefires, including last November's truce between Israel and Hezbollah after Gaza war escalations.1 Recent Israeli strikes killed a Hezbollah commander, prompting vows of retaliation and calls for disarmament, while President Aoun demanded Israel's withdrawal.1 Netanyahu pledged to prevent Hezbollah's rebuilding, heightening fears of renewed conflict.1
Hezbollah reaffirmed commitment to peaceful coexistence but defended sovereignty against aggression.1 The pope's message counters this volatility by promoting resilience and interfaith harmony, potentially influencing diplomacy in the Levant.1 Following the address, Leo headed to Harissa for rest, with plans for a Monday visit to St. Charbel Makhlouf's tomb in Annaya.4
1: In Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV urges authorities to put peace ‘above all else’ (Cruxnow, 2025-11-30)
2: Pope to Lebanese authorities: Blessed are the peacemakers (Vatican News, 2025-11-30)
3: Pope Leo lands in wounded Lebanon, urging leaders to rise above factionalism (2025-11-30)
4: Pope Leo XIV Calls Lebanon to Tenacity, Hope and Reconciliation (NC Register, 2025-11-30)
5: Pope Leo XIV calls Lebanon to tenacity, hope, and reconciliation (CNA, 2025-11-30)
6: Pope Leo XIV calls Lebanon to tenacity, hope, and reconciliation (CWR, 2025-11-30)
"Assess papal guidance on peacemaking in Lebanon’s post‑crisis context."
Lebanon's history of conflict, from the civil war of 1975-1990 to ongoing political instability, economic collapse, and regional tensions, has long drawn the attention of the Catholic Church. Papal teachings on peacemaking in this context consistently stress the role of dialogue, forgiveness, interreligious harmony, and international solidarity as essential for healing and reconstruction. Drawing from addresses by Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, and the current Pope Leo XIV, alongside broader encyclical insights, this guidance portrays Lebanon not merely as a nation recovering from crisis but as a "message" of pluralism and coexistence for the world. These teachings urge active involvement from faith communities, political leaders, and global actors to foster a stable peace grounded in justice and mutual respect.
In the aftermath of Lebanon's civil war, which displaced families, destroyed communities, and pitted religious groups against one another, Popes Paul VI and John Paul II offered direct guidance emphasizing spiritual and communal healing. Their messages, delivered through speeches to Lebanese ambassadors and faithful, highlighted the need to transcend divisions through shared faith and forgiveness, viewing Lebanon's diverse society as a potential model for peace rather than a source of perpetual conflict.
Pope Paul VI, addressing the Lebanese ambassador in 1977 amid the war's devastation, acknowledged the "ruins that have disfigured the country and the massacres that have brought sufferings difficult to heal." He expressed confidence in the Lebanese people's "vitality, the energy, the resourcefulness, the capacity for understanding and hope which springs from faith," urging the Church to persuade all parties, including international authorities, to "construct the future in peace." This early guidance framed peacemaking as a collaborative effort, with the Holy See committing to "dress the wounds" through charity and support for Lebanon's pluralistic ideal of coexistence among diverse groups.
John Paul II built on this foundation in the post-war era, repeatedly calling for national reconciliation and the rejection of external interferences. In 1983, speaking to Lebanese faithful reeling from sectarian violence, he decried the "hatred and cruelty" that destroyed homes and churches, while praising the Holy See's diplomatic efforts to "alleviate and circumscribe this unleashing of hatred." He appealed to global leaders to support Lebanon's legitimate authorities in restoring normalcy and independence, insisting that "all initiatives... have as unique [aim] to contribute to converging good wills and to recall the imperative duty of fraternity between sons of the same God." This underscored peacemaking as a moral imperative rooted in divine brotherhood, countering fratricidal strife with unity.
By 1990, as peace processes gained traction, John Paul II addressed the Lebanese ambassador with hope for an end to "more than 15 years of suffering," emphasizing that shared faith in one God could "contribute fundamentally to national reconciliation." He warned that divisions, aggravated by violence, must not foster opposition but enrich the nation through pluralism, calling on regional countries to avoid confrontation and allow Lebanon to build a life "founded on law and the legitimate desires of each of the groups." In 1994, he reiterated the Holy See's confidence in the Lebanese people's ability to heal "wounded hearts" and restore sovereignty, drawing on their "rich legacy of culture and religious meaning."
These themes intensified during John Paul II's 1997 apostolic journey to Lebanon, where he paid homage to those who exemplified "solidarity, fraternity, forgiveness and charity, even at the risk of their lives," particularly women as "leaven of unity" and "educators in peace." He urged looking "resolutely to the future," rebuilding a society of "justice and brotherhood" free from foreign influences that had separated neighbors of different faiths.[6†L1, L4] In a subsequent general audience, he described peace as Lebanon's "basic mission," stemming from its cultural and religious complexity, and rejected all "fundamentalism" in favor of an "open society" where communities coexist with mutual respect. By 2004, amid ongoing regional violence, John Paul II called for international courage to end the "infernal cycle of reciprocal violence," insisting on recognizing adversaries' rights, mutual forgiveness to heal "terrible wounds," and interreligious dialogue—especially between Christians and Muslims in education and daily life—to make Catholics "true peacemakers." He envisioned Lebanon overcoming misunderstandings to foster the common good for all.
In 1982, addressing Lebanon's president, John Paul II linked local peacemaking to broader Middle East resolution, including the Palestinian issue, encouraging active Lebanese contributions to "smooth the profound divergences" while respecting national independence. Collectively, these interventions assess post-crisis peacemaking as a multifaceted process: spiritual (through shared faith), social (via forgiveness and dialogue), and political (with international backing), warning that Lebanon's loss would be an "irreparable loss for the world."
Pope Leo XIV, elected in 2025 following Pope Francis's death, continues this tradition with a focus on regional unity and interfaith synergy, particularly relevant to Lebanon's current crises like economic turmoil and refugee influxes. His messages integrate peacemaking with global challenges, positioning Lebanon within a broader call for heart-centered transformation.
In a May 2025 address to the diplomatic corps, Leo XIV described peace as "built in the heart and from the heart, by eliminating pride and vindictiveness," with religions and interreligious dialogue essential for "fostering a climate of peace" through respect for religious freedom. He advocated multilateral diplomacy, halting arms production, and true disarmament to address conflict roots, echoing John Paul II's calls for ending violence cycles. This guidance implies that Lebanon's post-crisis recovery requires internal purification and external resolve, preventing rearmament amid regional threats.
Leo's September 2025 message to the Congress of World and Traditional Religions emphasized religions uniting "more than [they] divide," with leaders acting as "peacemakers" through joint actions like defending the vulnerable and environmental care, creating a "synergy for peace" that is "unarmed and disarming." While not Lebanon-specific, this aligns with the nation's interfaith fabric, urging prayer, service, and unified voices for human dignity—vital for healing post-crisis divisions.
His November 2025 apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon, announced en route, celebrated 1700 years since the Council of Nicaea, symbolizing Christian unity while transmitting "truth and harmony" to a world in need. This trip underscores Lebanon's role in fostering regional peace, building on predecessors' visions of it as a pluralism exemplar. Additionally, Leo's COP30 message linked peacebuilding to creation care, noting how climate threats exacerbate conflicts and require "cohesive and forward-looking multilateralism" centered on human dignity—pertinent to Lebanon's environmental and refugee strains. Overall, Leo XIV assesses peacemaking as holistic, demanding personal, interfaith, and global commitments to counter "collective selfishness" with solidarity.
Pope Francis's 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti provides a foundational framework for these papal guidances, portraying peacemaking as an "art" involving ordinary people in healing wounds and renewing encounters. It calls for "paths of peace to heal open wounds," with "peacemakers" initiating "processes of healing and renewed encounter" amid global divisions. Echoing John Paul II, it stresses negotiation shaped by peoples, not just elites, incorporating overlooked voices to build an "architecture of peace" through reason over revenge and harmony between politics and law. Fraternity, inspired by St. Francis, transcends barriers, loving others "as much when [they are] far away... as when [they are] with [us]," fostering social friendship essential for Lebanon's diverse society. This teaching assesses post-crisis peacemaking as a daily, creative project of hope, reconciliation, and collective memory-building.,
Papal guidance on Lebanon's peacemaking reveals striking consistency across pontificates: from Paul VI's compassionate support and John Paul II's diplomatic urgency for forgiveness and pluralism, to Leo XIV's emphasis on interfaith synergy and heart-level justice, all rooted in Fratelli Tutti's vision of fraternity. This evolves from immediate post-war reconstruction to contemporary holistic approaches addressing economic, environmental, and regional factors. Strengths include the Church's moral authority in promoting interreligious dialogue—proven effective in Lebanon's Christian-Muslim collaborations—and appeals for international non-interference, which have influenced UN resolutions and aid.
Challenges persist: external influences (e.g., Syrian and Israeli involvements) often undermine sovereignty, as noted by John Paul II, while internal corruption and economic woes test forgiveness's practicality. Sources highlight divergent interpretations, such as balancing self-defense with disarmament, but recent teachings like Leo XIV's prioritize dialogue's precedence. Where sources like Fratelli Tutti offer general principles, Lebanon-specific addresses provide nuanced application, affirming more recent papal emphases on global synergy as superseding older, war-focused ones.
Ultimately, this guidance calls the faithful, especially Lebanon's Catholics, to be active peacemakers through education, dialogue, and solidarity, ensuring the nation's "message of freedom" endures. By embodying these teachings, Lebanon can transform crisis into a beacon of reconciled diversity.