Beirut, Lebanon — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called on the Lebanese people to embrace reconciliation and to remain in their divided, crisis-hit country, which has seen waves of emigration.
Arriving from Turkey on his first international trip, the American pope brought a message of peace for the country, while also urging its leaders to put themselves fully “at the service of your people”.
Lebanon has been mired in a years-long economic collapse, and many in the country also fear a return to war after a recent conflict between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah.
“There are times when it is easier to flee, or simply more convenient to move elsewhere. It takes real courage and foresight to stay or return to one’s own country,” Leo told officials, diplomats and civil society representatives in a speech given at Lebanon’s presidential palace.
He also urged Lebanese people, whose nation is plagued by deep sectarian and political divisions, to take up the “path of reconciliation” during his remarks, which were met with applause.
Leo emphasized the need for peace, using the word more than 20 times during the address, without mentioning any specific international or regional conflicts, including the war between Hezbollah and Israel.
“Here, as in other parts of the world, uncertainty, violence, poverty and many other threats are leading to an exodus of young people and families seeking a future elsewhere, even though it is very painful to leave one’s homeland,” Leo said.
Successive crises, including the catastrophic 2020 Beirut port blast, have pushed many young Lebanese to emigrate, including many Christians.
Beirut-based consultancy firm Information International has estimated that 800,000 Lebanese emigrated between 2012 and 2024, most of them young.
No official figures on emigration are available, but Lebanon’s total population numbers around six million.
Resilience
Urging reconciliation, Leo noted that “there are personal and collective wounds that take many years, sometimes entire generations, to heal”.
“If we do not work, for example, to heal memories, to bring together those who have suffered wrongs and injustice, it is difficult to journey towards peace,” he said.
No real reconciliation process was undertaken following Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war, and the latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has deepened divisions.
The pope also paid tribute to the Lebanese people’s resilience.
“You are a people who do not give up, but in the face of trials, always know how to rise again with courage,” he said, urging the country’s leaders to place themselves “with commitment and dedication at the service of your people”.
Speaking before Leo, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that “safeguarding Lebanon” — a unique model of coexistence among different religious communities — “is a duty for humanity”.
“If this model disappears, nowhere else can replace it,” Aoun said.
“Tell the world about us: we will not die, we will not leave, we will not despair, we will not give up.”
