‘Blessed are the peacemakers’, Pope Leo tells Lebanon
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At the start of his visit to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV has called for a renewed commitment to peace and reconciliation in the war-torn and crisis-ridden country.
“Blessed are the peacemakers – those who choose peace even when conflict seems easier,” the pontiff said during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the Presidential Palace in Beirut on Sunday.
With his visit, Leo hopes to bolster the Christians of the region and strengthen hope for a peaceful future in the Middle East.
The head of the Catholic Church praised the resilience of the Lebanese people, who, despite economic hardship, political instability and recurring conflicts, have repeatedly found the courage to make a new beginning.
“Lebanon’s strength is a people who never give up, who rise again with courage after every trial,” he said.
The country is diverse and made up of different religions and cultures. However, what unites every Lebanese person, at the very least, is the common language of hope, he said.
This enables people to start anew time and again, despite all adversity.
“There are personal and collective wounds that take many years, sometimes entire generations, to heal,” the Pope said.
President Aoun emphasised that Lebanon is “a land of freedom and dignity for every person” and unique in its system of coexistence between Muslims and Christians.
He appealed to the Pope to draw the world’s attention to the country’s difficult situation.
Aoun also underscored the country’s geopolitical importance: its survival is a prerequisite for the emergence of peace, hope and reconciliation.
DPA
