Pope Leo XIV expresses solidarity with Lebanese people amid conflict

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday reiterated his closeness to the people of Lebanon, emphasizing a "moral obligation" to protect them and urging warring factions to pursue peace. His remarks come as Lebanon has been impacted by the Middle East conflict, with over 2,000 reported fatalities from Israeli strikes targeting the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Speaking at St Peter’s Square after his Regina Coeli prayer, the American pope stated, "I am closer than ever, in these days of sorrow, fear, and unconquerable hope in God, to the beloved Lebanese people." He highlighted that the principle of humanity and international law mandate the protection of civilians from war's devastating effects. Without naming specific parties, the 70-year-old pontiff called for a peaceful resolution, following his earlier strong condemnation of the war during a Saturday prayer for peace. He implored leaders to cease violence, advocating for dialogue and mediation over rearmament and deadly actions. The leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics has consistently called for de-escalation in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran and a diplomatic solution. Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to begin an 11-day tour in Africa, starting in Algeria, where he will promote bridge-building with the Islamic world.