Pope Leo XIV Concludes Visit to Lebanon, Calls on the Middle East to Overcome the "Mentality of Revenge and Violence"

According to the BBC, Pope Leo XIV concluded his historic three-day visit to Lebanon from Rafic Hariri International Airport, where an official farewell ceremony was held in the presence of senior officials.

In his speech, President Joseph Aoun praised the visit, saying it “will remain engraved in the memory of Lebanon and its people,” affirming that the Pope carried a “message of peace and reconciliation” to a country that is “small in size but great in its mission.” He added: “We heard your message and we will strive to embody it… Our people are faithful and deserve to live.”

For his part, Pope Leo XIV said that “leaving is harder than arriving,” stressing that he will carry Lebanon in his heart and that his encounter with the Lebanese people “does not end here.” He also spoke of his visit to the Beirut port explosion site, saying he prayed for the victims and carries with him “a thirst for truth and justice.” The Pope expressed his emotion at Lebanon’s “deep spiritual roots” and the strength of its people, which he compared to “cedar trees.” He also made a strong appeal to stop the attacks, stressing: “Weapons kill... but dialogue builds.” He concluded by saying, “Lebanon is more than a country… it is a message.”

During a mass he presided over at the Beirut Waterfront on Tuesday, attended by about 150,000 people, the Pope emphasized that the Middle East now needs new approaches to overcome the “mentality of revenge and violence.”

In a speech before heading to the airport, he said, “The Middle East needs new approaches to reject the mentality of revenge and violence, to overcome political, social, and religious divisions, and to open new chapters in the name of reconciliation and peace.”

He added, “And finally, to you, Christians of the East, children of this land in every sense of the word, be courageous — the entire Church looks upon you with love and admiration.”

Earlier, the Pope had urged the Lebanese people in his sermon to unite their efforts to awaken the “dream of a unified Lebanon,” where “peace and justice prevail” after the successive crises that have shaken this small country.