Pope Leo XIV made a strong appeal to all communities in Lebanon to put aside ethnic and political differences and unite to address the multiple crises paralyzing the country. The message was delivered during a large-scale mass on the Beirut coast on Tuesday - the culmination of his first foreign visit as head of the Catholic Church, News.bg reports.
According to the Vatican, about 150,000 people attended the service, where the pope said: “We must unite our efforts so that this land returns to its glory.“
Pope Leo demonstrated determination and fearlessness by celebrating the mass outdoors, despite the unstable situation and rising tensions between Israel and “Hezbollah“. Without isolating himself or using protected premises, he chose a massive public event that brought together more than 150,000 people - a gesture seen as a strong signal of his commitment to people and peace.
He called on the Lebanese to “take off the armor of divisions“ and deal with deadly conflicts, economic crisis and long-standing political paralysis.
Hours before the mass, the Pope laid a wreath at the site of the tragic 2020 warehouse explosion that killed more than 200 people and destroyed much of the city. He met with about 60 survivors and families of the victims and gave them rosaries with his coat of arms. One woman, in tears, managed to hug him, a scene watched by thousands. "He will raise his voice for justice, and we need it," said Cecile Rocco, who lost her brother in the explosion.
During his three-day visit – The second leg of a trip that began in Turkey, the pope called on religious leaders to work together for stability and reconciliation and urged political actors to continue peace efforts after last year's war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Lebanon, the country with the largest Christian population in the Middle East, is torn by economic collapse, a refugee crisis and regional conflicts, with about 1 million Syrian and Palestinian refugees now living in the country.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Catholic Church and a relative unknown on the world stage before his election in May, leaves for Rome this afternoon. In Beirut, however, his message of unity, reconciliation and hope has resonated strongly with the public.