Pope Leo urged Lebanon's Christian, Sunni, Shi'ite Muslim, and Druze leaders to unite through respect and dialogue to heal the country after years of crisis.
After visiting Turkey, Pope Leo continues to Lebanon, warmly received in Beirut as 'a visit of hope.' During his three-day trip, he visited holy sites sacred to both Muslims and Christians, including the Tomb of St. Charbel Makhlouf and the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, urging hope, love, and respect for religious pluralism
On his first trip abroad as pontiff, Pope Leo travels to Turkey and Lebanon, calling for Middle East peace and Christian unity as global attention follows closely.
Pope Leo will not visit Lebanon's south, battered by last year's war between Israel and Hezbollah and the site of intensified Israeli strikes in recent weeks. Israel's recent strike that killed Hezbollah's chief of staff in Beirut reinforced security concerns
Pope Leo did not elaborate on his reasons for the selections in the truncated video posted by Variety announcing a convening of filmmakers at the Vatican that will begin Saturday.
Several strikes were reported throughout Friday across Gaza's north, south, east and coastal regions. Meanwhile, PM Netanyahu and Pope Leo discussed Thursday's strike on the sole Catholic church in Gaza, and religious officials were allowed entry into the Strip to deliver aid