BEIRUT – Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to Lebanon carries a potent message of hope and a call for de-escalation as the country grapples with ongoing Israeli bombardment and a deeply entrenched political stalemate over Hezbollah‘s disarmament. The pontiff’s trip, which includes a planned visit to Iznik, Turkey, to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, is viewed by many Lebanese as a crucial intervention amid escalating tensions and widespread suffering.
The visit arrives at a critical juncture. The U.S. and Israel are pressing the Lebanese army to fully disarm Hezbollah, a demand the group resists, offering to disarm only in southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s government maintains it cannot compel disarmament while Israel occupies Lebanese territory, warning that forceful attempts would ignite civil war. This complex dynamic has created a risky impasse,and the Pope’s presence is seen as a potential catalyst for dialog.
beyond the political complexities, the visit offers a much-needed morale boost to a nation reeling from years of economic crisis and conflict. Father Tony Elias, a Maronite parish priest from Rmeish, a village near the Israeli border, expressed this sentiment, stating, ”When the pope visits a country that has been in pain for so long, this is truly enough to lift that pain.”
rmeish, having maintained neutrality during recent conflicts, stands as a relative haven amidst the devastation along the border, a consequence of years of Israeli bombardment. While Elias expressed a desire for the Pope to visit southern Lebanon, he and approximately 200 villagers plan to travel to Beirut to participate in the pontiff’s events. “If he can’t come to the south, we can come to him,” Elias said.
the Pope’s trip also acknowledges the historical importance of Lebanon as a crossroads of Christian and Muslim cultures. his visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul alongside his time in Lebanon underscores a message of interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence. While expectations for immediate breakthroughs are tempered, the visit is widely regarded as a vital gesture of solidarity and a plea for a lasting resolution to the region’s challenges.
