Pope Leo's Visit to Lebanon: Clergy Engagements and Regional Concerns

Pope Leo's upcoming visit to Lebanon is scheduled to include an address to clergy and religious workers at the Our Lady of Lebanon sanctuary in Harissa.

Lebanon's Context

Lebanon is a multi-faith nation where approximately 30 percent of the population is Christian, the highest percentage in the Middle East. The country recently observed its 82nd independence day without significant public celebrations, attributing the subdued event to the prevailing national circumstances.

The nation continues to experience economic challenges, which began with a financial collapse in 2019, and the aftermath of a port explosion in 2020 that resulted in 218 fatalities. A year-long ceasefire with Israel is in effect, though incidents, including a drone strike in Beirut last week that killed a Hezbollah commander, have been reported.

Papal Visit Logistics and Perspectives

Father Fadi El Mir, responsible for logistics at Our Lady of Lebanon, stated that the Church's mission extends to all of Lebanon. He noted increasing poverty in the country and anticipated that the Pope would deliver messages to encourage greater effectiveness within society and the Church. Father Fadi also observed that young Lebanese have departed the country, describing their migration as an 'escape' from difficult conditions.

Having served in various missions, Father Fadi indicated a public desire for the Church to be more responsive, particularly concerning Catholic-run hospitals and schools. He recounted an incident where he was shot at while managing a school in Tyre, a southern Lebanese city where a priest was killed 40 years prior by individuals who opposed the school's presence. Southern Lebanon is predominantly Shiite Muslim, and Catholic schools in the region are attended by a significant number of Shiite students, often perceived as offering a high standard of education.

Father Fadi asserts that any inter-religious tension in Lebanon is politically motivated rather than community-based.

Concerns from Southern Lebanon

Israeli actions during conflict with Hezbollah have affected both Christian and Muslim villages along the Lebanese-Israel border in the south.

Some Christians in southern Lebanon have expressed disappointment that Pope Leo's itinerary does not include visits to their region. Father Fadi, a member of the papal visit's organizing committee, had suggested to the Vatican that Pope Leo visit the south due to the community's need for his presence, but the request was declined for security reasons.

Tyre District and Alma al-Chaab

The Tyre district, which includes parts of the Galilee, holds historical significance as a region where Jesus is believed to have preached. The village of Canna, where Jesus reportedly performed his first miracle, now has a small Christian minority among its Muslim residents. A grotto historically associated with Jesus and Mary was recently observed to be deserted.

Alma al-Chaab, the sole exclusively Christian community in the Tyre district, has experienced significant damage, with nearly 300 homes and infrastructure affected by Israeli airstrikes during conflict with Hezbollah. The village population has been reduced, though Mayor Chadi Sayah, elected five months ago, has overseen the acquisition of a new ambulance and garbage truck through donations.

Residents of Alma al-Chaab invest in multi-generational homes, some centuries old, others newly constructed. The area yields various crops, including oranges, olives, avocados, pomegranates, and pine nuts, which contribute to the village's revenue. Mayor Sayah indicated an area where hundreds of pine trees were felled during Israel's occupation of the village in 2024.

The Israeli border and military installations are less than a mile from Alma al-Chaab, with the Israeli city of Nahariya visible in the distance. The village also overlooks Lebanon's Bay of Naqoura.

Mayor Sayah, a math teacher on leave, stated that Alma al-Chaab has received limited support from both the state, which he described as unable to provide assistance, and the church. He conveyed the sentiment, "We love the Lebanese state. But they should love us as much as we love them," noting that a year post-ceasefire, the village lacks consistent electricity and running water. He affirmed, "We are a part of the Lebanese land. We want to stay here."

Sayah also expressed expectations for more support from the Catholic and Maronite Catholic churches, stating, "We believed the Church should help us rebuild. If they want Christians to stay in this area they need to help."

He drafted a letter to Pope Leo, appealing for a visit to the south, writing that "your visit, even if brief would be a profound source of strength for us, a sign that the Church remembers her children on the borders and a message to the world that these lands and their people are not forgotten." Mayor Sayah and many village residents do not plan to attend the Pope's events, opting instead to plant new pine trees to replace those lost during the conflict.