Baabda Palace: Pope Leo XIV Addresses a Message of Peace to the Lebanese
Baabda Palace – Beirut: President Joseph Aoun received His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at Baabda Palace following the pontiff’s arrival in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, this evening, in a visit drawing wide domestic and international attention. After meeting with Lebanon’s three presidents, President Aoun welcomed the Pope, who delivered remarks on Lebanon’s role and that of its people in promoting peace.
Aoun: A Call to Preserve the Lebanese Model
President Aoun welcomed the Pope on behalf of the Lebanese people, describing Lebanon as “a land where faith and freedom meet, and where the values of diversity, unity, pain, and hope coexist.” He added that Lebanon’s mention in the holy scriptures makes it “a symbol of sacredness.”
Aoun emphasized the uniqueness of the Lebanese model, stating: “Different religious communities live in Lebanon as equal citizens, open to every person and every living conscience.” He stressed that “the duty of a living humanity is to preserve Lebanon,” calling for the protection of this “unique human model.”
The President warned against the “collapse of free, pluralistic Lebanon,” noting that the country “can only be built on partnership and pluralism.” Addressing the world through the Pope, he said: “In our land, there is much suffering and many oppressed individuals waiting to hear your courageous and resonant voice, to convey to the world that we will not surrender, that we will remain here breathing freedom and aspiring to modernity, and that we will remain present in our region and globally.”
He concluded: “What Lebanon brings together cannot be contained anywhere else on earth.”
Pope: Peace Is a Continuous and Renewed Process
Pope Leo XIV began his remarks by commending the Lebanese people, saying: “I am certain that millions of Lebanese here serve peace quietly,” expressing appreciation for their resilience, ability to “stand before difficulties,” and capacity for “renewal.”
The Pope described resilience as “an indispensable mark of true peacemakers,” noting that “peace is a renewed and continuous process,” and calling for “embracing reality and persevering to safeguard life.”
He asked: “From where does this immense energy come, even when confidence in tomorrow is shaken?” He answered that the “language of hope, the language of beginning anew,” has always allowed Lebanon to “start again.” He praised the “vibrant civil society, rich with competencies and youth who express the country’s aspirations.”
The Pope stressed the need for every Lebanese to “remain connected to their people” and for all to “serve the Lebanese population,” expressing hope that Lebanon could, “through the language of hope, begin once more as a harmonious community with diverse voices.”
Reconciliation, Memory, and Public Good
The Pope also addressed the issue of reconciliation, noting that “some wounds require generations and years to heal if not treated immediately through the purification of memory.” He warned that “each person sees only a part of the truth and does not see what the other holds,” pointing out that “lasting reconciliation requires a shared goal and a commitment by authorities and institutions to uphold the public good.”
Migration and the Role of Christians and Muslims
The Pope discussed the challenge of youth migration, asking: “What must be done so that young people do not leave their homeland?” He called for the strengthening of “a culture of love and peace,” so that “no one is forced to depart, while enabling those who have left to return.”
He concluded by emphasizing the role of Christians and Muslims, saying: “Christians and Muslims are called to play their true role in raising awareness.” He expressed gratitude to the Lebanese President for “the warm reception.”
This visit comes amid complex regional and international circumstances, as well as the economic and social challenges Lebanon continues to face.
