Harissa: Pope Leo XIV marked a significant moment for Christian communication in the Middle East on Monday as he blessed the cornerstone of a new Christian media centre set to rise in Lebanon. The ceremony took place at the conclusion of his meeting with bishops, priests, and religious at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, underscoring the Church’s renewed commitment to fostering truth-filled media in a region in need of hope and reliable information.
The upcoming complex designed to function as a modern “Media City” will feature state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor television studios, digital production units, and training spaces dedicated to forming young communicators and media professionals. The project is spearheaded by Télé Lumière, Lebanon’s pioneering Christian broadcaster, established in 1991 as the first network of its kind in the Arab world.
Blessing the foundation stone, Pope Leo emphasized the importance of responsible communication that uplifts society, builds bridges, and counteracts misinformation. He encouraged those involved in the media apostolate to remain rooted in Gospel values while using the most advanced tools to share messages of peace and human dignity.
During the ceremony, Bishop Antoine Nabil Andari, Chairman of Télé Lumière, expressed gratitude for what he called the Pope’s “deeply symbolic and encouraging gesture.” He summed up the vision guiding the new Media City with three Latin ideals: veritas (truth), caritas (love), and unitas (unity). These principles, he said, will shape the mission of the centre as it seeks to serve Christians across Lebanon and the wider Arab world.
The blessing marked one of the key cultural and pastoral highlights of Pope Leo XIV’s visit, signalling strong Vatican support for media initiatives that promote dialogue, coexistence, and authentic Christian witness in a turbulent region.