Pope Leo urges Lebanon to 'rebuild' in Mass speech in Beirut

Pope Leo XIV urged Lebanon to "rise again" during a Mass attended by 150,000 people in Beirut on Tuesday. The pontiff emphasized that the nation has the potential to become a "home of justice and brotherhood" and a "beacon of peace for the Levant," speaking on the final day of his inaugural overseas journey.

Thousands gathered along the Beirut waterfront well before the service, waving both Lebanese and Vatican flags. The Pope received a warm welcome, greeted by resounding applause as he arrived in his enclosed popemobile.

Leo XIV, who assumed the papacy earlier this year following Pope Francis, highlighted that Lebanon can "regain its past splendor" if its various religious and political communities unite. The country is home to a diverse population, including Sunni and Shiite Muslims, as well as multiple Christian denominations, among them Catholics.

Lebanon is currently facing a severe economic crisis with widespread poverty, while also recovering from last year's clashes between Israel and the Hezbollah militia. Earlier, the Pope visited the site of the 2020 Beirut port explosion and offered prayers, meeting with relatives of the more than 200 victims.

The Mass in Beirut marked the conclusion of Pope Leo XIV's first foreign trip, which commenced on Thursday in Turkey. During his visit, he also stopped by De la Croix Hospital in Jal Ed Dib to meet staff and patients.

Author: Sophia Brooks