Beirut: Pope Leo XIV used his address at an ecumenical and interreligious gathering in Beirut on Monday to spotlight Lebanon’s unique legacy of coexistence, calling the nation a “witness to dialogue” at a time when the Middle East continues to grapple with conflict and division.
The encounter, held in the historic Martyrs’ Square on the second day of his Apostolic Journey, brought together Christian patriarchs, Muslim scholars, Druze leaders, and representatives of various religious communities. Against the backdrop of Beirut’s skyline where church steeples and mosque minarets rise side by side the Pope reflected on Lebanon’s vocation as a land where faith traditions meet, converse, and work together for peace.
The Pope opened his remarks by praising Lebanon as a “blessed land,” cherished since biblical times. He invoked the image of Lebanon’s iconic cedars, long described by prophets as symbols of righteousness anchored under heaven’s protection.
He also recalled Pope Benedict XVI’s 2012 Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, signed in Beirut, which affirmed the Church’s unwavering commitment to dialogue with all believers. Lebanon, he said, embodies this aspiration in the way its people continue to live their faith publicly and harmoniously.
In one of the most evocative moments of his address, Pope Leo XIV envisioned a Lebanon where every church bell and every Muslim call to prayer rise together “as a single hymn” not only glorifying the Creator, but pleading for peace in a region that has suffered deeply.
The Middle East’s recent history, he said, has been marked by violence and heartbreak, yet Lebanon stands as a reminder that “mistrust and prejudice need not define our future.” Its people, through their coexistence, show that peace is more than an aspiration it is a lived possibility.
The Pope emphasized that despite cultural and religious diversity, the people of the region share a common identity rooted in human dignity and belief in a God of compassion. Christians, Muslims, Druze, and many others continue to strive for a Lebanon built on mutual respect and sincere dialogue.
Quoting the vision of the Second Vatican Council, he urged Catholics worldwide to uphold respect for all religions respect born not of tolerance alone, but of genuine love. True dialogue, he said, must reject discrimination, prejudice, and persecution while embracing the equal dignity of every person.
Pope Leo XIV then turned to the symbols etched into Lebanon’s landscape. The cedar, towering and enduring, reflects strength and resilience. The olive tree, he said, is “a tireless symbol of reconciliation,” surviving harsh conditions and producing oil that heals both physical and spiritual wounds.
In these symbols, he noted, lies a lesson for the world: peace requires endurance, tenderness, and a constant commitment to healing.
The Pope paid special tribute to millions of Lebanese living abroad, calling them ambassadors of their homeland’s spirit of coexistence. Their presence across continents, he said, is a global invitation to counter hatred with dialogue, and violence with justice.
Pope Leo concluded by entrusting Lebanon and the entire region to the care of the Virgin Mary, “Queen of Peace.” He prayed that reconciliation and harmony may flow “like the streams from Lebanon,” bringing unity and renewed hope to a region long yearning for stability.
With his words, the Pope reaffirmed Lebanon’s role not only as a nation with a complicated past, but as a beacon for what interreligious dialogue can achieve when rooted in humility, courage, and love.