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Pope Léon XIV Urges Lebanese to Stay and Presses Leaders to Serve as Two-Day Visit Advances

The pontiff couples a pastoral pilgrimage with quiet diplomacy to support Lebanon's cohesion during a prolonged crisis.

Overview

  • In a palace address, he called on citizens to "remain" in their country and urged the political class to "serve the people" with commitment.
  • On arrival Sunday, he met President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri before addressing authorities and diplomats.
  • Monday's schedule includes a pilgrimage to Saint Charbel in Annaya, an address to clergy at Harissa, an interreligious prayer at Beirut's Martyrs' Square and a youth meeting in Bkerké.
  • Lebanon declared two public holidays and tightened security with road closures, drone bans and downtown evacuations ahead of a waterfront mass Tuesday expected to draw about 100,000–120,000 people.
  • Hezbollah welcomed the visit but urged the Pope to condemn Israeli "aggression" as Israeli strikes have intensified, including a November 23 attack that killed commander Haitham Ali Tabatabai, according to reports.