Pope Leo XIV arrived in Beirut today. He noted that the path to peace requires perseverance, steadfastness, and dialogue.
“It is a great joy for me to meet you and to visit this country where ‘peace’ is more than just a word, because here peace is a desire and a calling: it is a gift and a constant work,” he declared, addressing representatives of the Lebanese government, civil society, and diplomatic corps.
Recalling the words of the Gospel: “Blessed are the peacemakers,” the pope stressed that the strength of the Lebanese people lies in their resilience and ability to “rise again in the face of any challenge.”
“Your resilience is an essential characteristic of true peacemakers, because the work of peace is a constant new beginning. Building peace requires perseverance, defending and valuing life requires perseverance,” he said.
