Leo XIV has arrived in Beirut, where he delivered his first address to the authorities, speaking about the resilience of the Land of the Cedars and the challenge of achieving reconciliation that goes beyond a mere balance of interests. “A culture of reconciliation cannot arise solely from the grassroots,” he warned. “Ask yourselves: what can be done so that young people are not forced to emigrate?”
An Israeli air raid struck an apartment on the southern outskirts of Beirut. The target was Haytham Ali Tabataba'i, chief of staff of the pro-Iranian party. Washington and Tel Aviv are against the Lebanese leadership, which has not yet managed to disarm Hezbollah. The Pope's imminent visit rules out any immediate escalation, but fears for the future remain.
Traditionally a moment of joy and sharing between generations, olive harvesting has collapsed due to the war between Hezbollah and Israel. The Israeli military, which launched fresh attacks in the area yesterday, is stifling any attempts at recovery and preventing the reconstruction of border villages and the regeneration of the land. Despite such difficulties, for farmers, the olive season is a way of affirming, “we still exist”.
The population is “honoured” to have been chosen as the first destination of the pontiff's apostolic journey abroad, but it is also “exhausted”. From two years of war to attacks in southern Israel, many issues remain unresolved. Ortagus' mission for direct negotiations between the Jewish state and the Land of Cedars. The rift widens between Christians, Druze and Sunnis and the Shiite Hezbollah-Amal tandem.
The schedule and logos of the pope’s first international apostolic journey have been made public. In Iznik, a prayer will be held at the site of the ancient Basilica of Nicaea, where archaeological work is currently underway; in Istanbul, the pope will visit the Blue Mosque, but not Hagia Sophia (which Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI visited). In Lebanon, the pontiff will join an interfaith meeting in Martyrs' Square and stop at the port devastated by the 2020 explosion.
Tomorrow the Armenian Catholic archbishop, martyr of the 1915 genocide, will be raised to the altar of the saints in a ceremony in St Peter's. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Patriarch Minassian will be present, along with hundreds of faithful from the diaspora. For many Armenians, ‘this historic day is also a day of justice’.
