Beirut: Archbishop Paolo Borgia, the Apostolic Nuncio in Lebanon, has personally helped deliver humanitarian aid to several southern villages and appealed for continued support for communities suffering from the effects of ongoing conflict.
The Archbishop visited the villages with a truck carrying about 15 tons of relief supplies provided by the Catholic charity L Oeuvre d Orient. He joined volunteers in unloading the materials and meeting local families and community leaders.
Speaking from Harissa Hill overlooking Beirut, Archbishop Borgia said he had just heard a blast near the Apostolic Nunciature, a reminder of the tense situation in the country. He said such sounds have become a part of daily life for many people in Lebanon.
Earlier in the day, the Archbishop attended the funeral of Father Pierre El Rahi, a Maronite priest who was killed while helping an injured parishioner in the southern village of Qlayaa. After the funeral, he travelled south to distribute aid and meet residents.
Photos and videos of the Archbishop unloading aid packages while wearing his cassock quickly spread on Lebanese social media. He said everyone worked together to unload the supplies so that assistance could reach people as quickly as possible.
During the visit, the delegation travelled to six villages and met different communities including Maronite Christians, Orthodox, Greek Melkite Catholics, Latin Catholics and mixed groups that included Druze and Sunni residents. Archbishop Borgia described the meetings as a strong moment of unity and fraternity among the people.
He also shared a tense moment during the visit. While praying in a small village church, mortar shells were fired nearby. Someone jokingly told him that the explosions were a welcome greeting. Despite the danger, the moment was met with nervous laughter.
The Archbishop said many people expressed deep trust in the Holy See and the Pope. According to him, local residents greatly appreciated the support and the message of solidarity from Pope Leo XIV, who visited Beirut in December 2025 and built a strong connection with the people.
Archbishop Borgia also raised concern about damaged infrastructure in the south. He said that after the aid mission left the area, some roads were bombed and villages such as Qlayaa became completely blocked. Communication routes to southern regions are also being cut off, making it harder to deliver assistance.
The conflict has forced large numbers of people to leave their homes. According to government figures, around 800000 people have registered for help through the Ministry of Social Affairs website. About 120000 displaced people are currently staying in local assistance centres.
The Archbishop explained that many families in these centres live in fear because of the continuing violence. Hezbollah has been launching rockets towards Israel, while Israel has carried out targeted air strikes in Beirut’s Dahieh district and other areas.
He noted that many Shiite neighbourhoods in Beirut are now almost empty because residents have fled to safer places.
Despite the difficult situation, Archbishop Borgia expressed hope that the conflict will soon come to an end and that peace will return to Lebanon. He urged the international community and charitable organisations to continue supporting people who are struggling to rebuild their lives.