Pope to encourage unity, offer hope to Lebanese youth on second day of visit

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to encourage harmony and solidarity on his second day in Lebanon on Monday, delivering a message of hope to young citizens whose confidence in their crisis-stricken nation has weakened. Arriving from Turkey on his first foreign journey as pope, Leo called on Lebanese leaders to serve their long-suffering population, many of whom have left the country amid ongoing turmoil.

Lebanon continues to endure the effects of a six-year economic crisis, largely attributed to corruption and mismanagement, while fears linger of renewed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah despite a ceasefire established in November 2024 to end over a year of hostilities. Recent weeks have seen intensified Israeli strikes on Lebanon, and the financially strained Lebanese government faces significant US pressure to disarm the Iran-backed militants.

"We are confronting numerous economic, social, and political challenges," said Elias Abou Nasr Chaalan, a 44-year-old jeweler and father of two. "We need hope and unity as Lebanese," he added, highlighting the popes efforts to bring together officials and religious leaders. "Through unity, we can overcome all obstacles," he told AFP.

Pope Leo will begin his visit at a monastery in Annaya, located in the mountains north of Beirut, which houses the tomb of Saint Charbel, a Maronite hermit canonized in 1977. The saint remains widely revered beyond the Christian community, with images appearing in homes, cars, and workplaces across Lebanon.

He will then address bishops and clergy at a shrine in Harissa, north of Beirut, where a towering statue of Our Lady of Lebanon overlooks the Mediterranean from a steep hill. The pope will also participate in an interfaith gathering at Martyrs' Square in central Beirut, followed by a meeting with young people at the Maronite patriarchate in Bkerke, near the capital.

Authorities have declared December 1 and 2 as official holidays, with enhanced security measures including road closures and a ban on drone photography. Despite rainy conditions, thousands lined the streets on Sunday to greet the pontiff's convoy.

Leo has urged Lebanese leaders to dedicate themselves to serving the people and emphasized the importance of reconciliation in a nation still scarred by the 1975-1990 civil war. "Peace means living together in communion as reconciled communities," he said, also highlighting the ongoing exodus of young people and families seeking opportunities abroad.

The popes 48-hour visit has been highly anticipated in Lebanon, a multi-confessional country, where the last papal visit was by Benedict XVI in 2012. In Turkey, Leo maintained a careful approach, balancing political sensitivities while advocating for unity and respect for religious diversity.

Author: Sophia Brooks