BEIRUT: Pope Leo XIV called for peace in Lebanon during a Beirut address to more than 400 of the country’s top political, religious and social figures.
“Peace in this land is more than a word; it is a desire, a message, a gift and a work in progress,” he said on the first stop of his historic three-day visit to Lebanon.
Lebanon has “a people who do not give up, but rather, in the face of adversity, always know how to rise again with courage,” he added.
“Your resilience is a fundamental characteristic of true peacemakers, because peacemaking is, in reality, a continuous new beginning. Commitment to and love of peace know no fear in the face of apparent defeat, nor are they discouraged by disappointment. Rather, they look ahead, welcoming and embracing all situations with hope.”
The pope, who arrived from a visit to Turkiye, told the Lebanese audience that “building peace requires perseverance.”
