Pope Leo calls for unity during his second day in Lebanon

During the second day of his Lebanon visit, Pope Leo emphasized the importance of coexistence, gathering religious leaders from across sects along the former civil war dividing line and urging harmony in a region scarred by conflict. Addressing the public at Martyrs Square on Mondaya site historically separating Muslim west Beirut from Christian east Beirut during the 19751990 civil warthe pope highlighted Lebanon as an example that fear, distrust, and prejudice do not dictate the future.

In a time when coexistence may seem unattainable, the people of Lebanon, while practicing various faiths, demonstrate that unity, reconciliation, and peace are achievable, he stated. He added a symbolic call for religious harmony: May every bell, every adhan, every call to prayer rise together in a single, soaring hymn.

Martyrs Square, known for its monument honoring those who fought for Lebanons independence and as a hub for political protests, symbolizes the nations ongoing struggle against sectarianism. Al Jazeera correspondent Zeina Khodr noted that while the interfaith gathering presents an image of unity, Lebanon remains deeply divided.

Pope Leo arrived in Lebanon on Sunday as part of his first overseas tour, which also included Turkiye. He met with President Joseph Aoun, the Arab worlds only Christian head of state, and addressed officials and diplomats at the presidential palace. Earlier on Monday, he visited the tomb of St Charbel, a revered Catholic saint, and then traveled to the hillside shrine of Harissa, overlooking the Mediterranean. Crowds welcomed him with cheers under the statue of the Virgin Mary, and around 15,000 young people gathered to hear him speak at the Maronite Catholic headquarters.

There is hope within you, a gift adults often lose, Pope Leo told the youth. You have time to dream, plan, and do good.

Lebanon is home to one of the Middle Easts largest Christian populations, making up roughly 30% of the country, alongside Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites, and Druze communities. Leaders from all major sects attended the Monday interfaith gathering, including those from areas affected by violence in Syria. Sheikh Ali al-Khatib, deputy head of the Supreme Shia Islamic Council, expressed gratitude for the popes visit but warned of ongoing wounds due to Israels attacks.

The pope delivered his message of unity amid broader regional tensions. Hezbollah had fired rockets into Israel in October 2023 in response to Israeli military actions in Gaza, and despite a ceasefire in November 2024, Israel has continued cross-border strikes, causing significant civilian casualties in Lebanon. Khodr reported that Pope Leo refrained from commenting directly on the conflict, although his presence is viewed by many as a stabilizing influence.

Lebanons economic hardships and political deadlock also weigh heavily on the situation. Years of mismanagement led to a financial crisis in 2019, increasing poverty levels, while the country continues to host about one million Syrian and Palestinian refugees.

On Tuesday, Pope Leo is scheduled to visit the site of the 2020 Beirut port explosion and celebrate a mass at the citys historic waterfront.

Author: Sophia Brooks