Pope Leo Takes a Message of Peace to Lebanon Amid Intensifying Israeli Strikes
Pope Leo is traveling to Lebanon today, carrying a message the world desperately needs to hear — a call for peace, unity, and human dignity. His visit comes as Lebanon continues to endure Israeli air strikes amid rising tensions linked to the Gaza conflict. This marks the second and final stop of his first international journey as the newly elected leader of the Catholic Church.
Arriving from Turkey, where he spent four days meeting leaders and religious figures, Pope Leo warned the world that humanity’s future is slipping into danger as conflicts multiply. He firmly condemned violence committed in the name of religion, urging the global community to reject division and rebuild trust.
The pope is scheduled to land at Beirut’s Hariri International Airport at 3.45pm (9.45pm Malaysian time). From there, he will head into meetings with Lebanon’s president and prime minister before addressing national leaders — his second speech to a foreign government since taking office.
Lebanon, home to the largest Christian population in the Middle East, remains deeply affected by the fallout of the Gaza conflict. The war between Israel and Hezbollah has taken a heavy toll, most recently triggering a major Israeli offensive that left communities devastated. With one million Syrian and Palestinian refugees already within its borders, and a prolonged economic crisis still crippling the nation, fears are rising that Israeli strikes could escalate further.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem expressed hope that Pope Leo’s presence could help ease the violence, saying the visit might play a role in halting attacks. Messages of welcome also poured in from across Lebanon’s diverse religious communities. Druze cleric Sheikh Sami Abi al-Muna said the country “needs the glimmer of hope represented by this visit.”
A Pope Stepping onto the World Stage
Pope Leo, who stepped into global prominence only after his election in May, is being closely watched as he delivers his first speeches abroad. During his stop in Istanbul, he visited the historic Blue Mosque. While he removed his shoes in respect, he did not pray as initially expected — a moment that caught Vatican officials by surprise.
At age 70, the pope is in strong health and is taking on a demanding three-day schedule across five Lebanese cities and towns. Though he will avoid southern Lebanon — an area currently under Israeli fire — his plans include prayer at the site of the devastating 2020 Beirut port explosion, which claimed 200 lives and caused billions in damage.
He will also celebrate an outdoor Mass on the Beirut waterfront and visit a psychiatric hospital, one of the few mental health institutions in the country. Staff and patients there have been preparing eagerly, seeing the visit as a moment of recognition, compassion, and much-needed morale.