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Pope Leo XIV called for an end to hostilities in Lebanon and new approaches for peace in the Middle East before returning to Rome on Tuesday, ending his inaugural visit abroad as pontiff.A 150,000-strong mass at Beirut’s waterfront was the highlight of the trip by the head of the world’s Catholics, who arrived in Lebanon on Sunday after visiting Turkey, the start of his six-day trip. Before landing in Rome on Tuesday afternoon, the 70-year-old pontiff told journalists aboard the papal plane that he looked forward to his next international trip, which has yet to be officially confirmed.”I hope to make a trip to Africa, which would possibly be my next trip to confirm,” he said, adding that he hoped to visit Algeria “to visit the places where St Augustine lived”. He also mentioned “Latin America, Argentina, Uruguay” as possible visits.In Lebanon, the US pontiff received a jubilant welcome in a nation beset by a years-long economic collapse and which is still reeling from last year’s war between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, with many fearing renewed hostilities.Noting that he was unable to visit all of the country, Pope Leo expressed his “aspiration for peace, along with a heartfelt appeal: may the attacks and hostilities cease”.Israel has continued to launch strikes on Lebanon despite a November 2024 ceasefire with Hezbollah and has escalated attacks in recent weeks — but has not announced any raids during the pope’s visit.Under heavy pressure, Lebanon’s government has committed to disarming the Iran-backed group, which however has rejected the idea.The pope appealed in his mass “to those who hold political and social authority here and in all countries marked by war and violence. Listen to the cry of your peoples who are calling for peace”.He said that “the Middle East needs new approaches in order to reject the mindset of revenge and violence, to overcome political, social and religious divisions, and to open new chapters in the name of reconciliation and peace”.Later, as he prepared to depart from Beirut airport he declared: “While weapons are lethal, negotiation, mediation and dialogue are constructive. Let us all choose peace as a way, not just as a goal!”- ‘Have courage’ -Earlier, the pope wound his way through the crowd at the outdoor mass in his popemobile as people offered roses, with senior officials including President Joseph Aoun in attendance.”The pope puts joy and peace in our hearts and strengthens our hope,” said Samira Khoury, among some 150,000 people in the crowd.Leo told those gathered: “I especially pray for beloved Lebanon. I ask the international community once again to spare no effort in promoting processes of dialogue and reconciliation.”Some participants travelled from abroad, including from neighbouring Syria, while migrant workers from countries such as the Philippines and Sri Lanka were among the crowd. Elias Fadel, 22, said the visit was “a sign of hope for Lebanon. I can feel the peace already just by seeing the people and how happy they are and I can see hope in their eyes for the future of Lebanon.”- ‘Thirst for truth’ -Before the service, the pope prayed at the site of a catastrophic port explosion on August 4, 2020 which killed more than 220 people, injured over 6,500 and devastated swathes of the capital.Near a monument to those killed, with the facility’s devastated grain silos visible nearby, the pope spoke with survivors and relatives of victims, many of whom were holding photos of their loved ones.”I was deeply moved by my brief visit to the Port of Beirut,” the pope said from the airport.”I carry with me the pain, and the thirst for truth and justice, of so many families, of an entire country,” he added.Nobody has been held to account for the Beirut port blast, one of the world’s largest ever non-nuclear explosions.Cecile Roukoz, a lawyer whose brother died in the explosion, expressed gratitude for the pope speaking up for victims. “We need justice for our brothers and all the victims of this explosion,” she said.

Pope Leo XIV called for an end to hostilities in Lebanon and said the Middle East needed new approaches for peace as he finished a three-day trip to the country by urging an end to divisions.A 150,000-strong mass at Beirut’s waterfront was the highlight of the trip by the Catholic leader, who arrived on Sunday after visiting Turkey on his inaugural visit abroad as pontiff. He has received a jubilant welcome in a nation beset by a years-long economic collapse and which is still reeling from a war last year between Israel and militant group Hezbollah, with many fearing renewed hostilities.Noting that he was unable to visit all of the country, Pope Leo expressed his “aspiration for peace, along with a heartfelt appeal: may the attacks and hostilities cease”.Israel has kept up strikes on Lebanon despite a November 2024 ceasefire with Hezbollah and has escalated attacks in recent weeks — but has not announced any raids during the pope’s visit.Under heavy pressure, Lebanon’s government has committed to disarming the Iran-backed group, which however has rejected the idea.The pope appealed in his mass “to those who hold political and social authority here and in all countries marked by war and violence. Listen to the cry of your peoples who are calling for peace”.He said that “the Middle East needs new approaches in order to reject the mindset of revenge and violence, to overcome political, social and religious divisions, and to open new chapters in the name of reconciliation and peace.”Later, as he prepared to depart from Beirut airport he declared: “While weapons are lethal, negotiation, mediation and dialogue are constructive. Let us all choose peace as a way, not just as a goal!”- ‘Have courage’ -Earlier, the pope wound his way through the crowd at the outdoor mass in his popemobile as people offered roses, with senior officials including President Joseph Aoun also in attendance.”The pope puts joy and peace in our hearts and strengthens our hope,” said Samira Khoury, among some 150,000 people in attendance.Leo told those gathered: “I especially pray for beloved Lebanon. I ask the international community once again to spare no effort in promoting processes of dialogue and reconciliation.”He also sent a message of encouragement to Christians in the region, whose presence has dwindled.”Christians of the Levant, citizens of these lands in every respect, I repeat, have courage. The whole Church looks to you with affection and admiration,” he said.Some participants travelled from abroad including from neighbouring Syria, while migrant workers from countries such as the Philippines and Sri Lanka were also among the crowd. Elias Fadel, 22, said the visit was “a sign of hope for Lebanon. I can feel the peace already just by seeing the people and how happy they are and I can see hope in their eyes for the future of Lebanon.”- ‘Thirst for truth’ -Before the service, the pope prayed at the site of a catastrophic port explosion on August 4, 2020 which killed more than 220 people, injured over 6,500 and devastated swathes of the capital.Near a monument to those killed, with the facility’s devastated grain silos visible nearby, the pope spoke with survivors and relatives of victims, many of whom were holding photos of their loved ones.”I was deeply moved by my brief visit to the Port of Beirut,” the pope said from the airport.”I carry with me the pain, and the thirst for truth and justice, of so many families, of an entire country,” he added.Nobody has been held to account for the Beirut port blast, one of the world’s largest ever non-nuclear explosions.Cecile Roukoz, a lawyer whose brother died in the explosion, expressed gratitude at the visit. The pope raises his voice for justice “and we need justice for our brothers and all the victims of this explosion”, she said.Pope Leo’s first stop on Tuesday was at a psychiatric hospital run by nuns where an emotional Mother Superior Marie Makhlouf thanked the pope for being “a father to the forgotten, the abandoned and the marginalised”.”We cannot forget those who are most fragile,” Pope Leo said.Bidding the pontiff farewell, Aoun said the visit “reminded us that the world has not forgotten Lebanon — that there are still those who pray for it and work for peace”.

Around 150,000 people gathered at Beirut’s waterfront for mass with Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday morning, the highlight of the Catholic leader’s visit to the capital, where he delivered a message of hope and peace.The pontiff arrived from Turkey on Sunday on his inaugural visit abroad as pope and brought a message of hope, particularly to young people in Lebanon whose faith in their country has dwindled.He has received a jubilant welcome in a nation beset by a years-long economic collapse and which is still reeling from a war last year between Israel and militant group Hezbollah, with many fearing renewed hostilities.Lebanon, he told the crowd during his homily, is “overshadowed by the many problems that afflict you, the fragile and often unstable political context, the dramatic economic crisis that weighs heavily upon you and the violence and conflicts that have reawakened ancient fears”.”Let us cast off the armour of our ethnic and political divisions, open our religious confessions to mutual encounter and reawaken in our hearts the dream of a united Lebanon. A Lebanon where peace and justice reign, where all recognise each other as brothers and sisters,” he said.”Everyone must do their part, and we must unite our efforts so that this land can return to its former glory,” he added.Arriving for the service on the last day of his trip, the pope wound his way through the crowd in his popemobile as people offered roses, with senior officials including President Joseph Aoun also in attendance.- ‘Sign of hope’ -“We came with joy to participate in this heavenly celebration,” said Samira Khoury, among some 150,000 people in attendance, according to the Vatican press service, which cited figures from Lebanese authorities.”The pope puts joy and peace in our hearts and strengthens our hope,” Khoury told AFP.Some participants travelled from abroad including from neighbouring Syria, or from further afield like the United States, while migrant workers from countries such as the Philippines and Sri Lanka were also among the excited crowd. “It’s a sign of hope for Lebanon. I can feel the peace already just by seeing the people and how happy they are and I can see hope in their eyes for the future of Lebanon,” said Elias Fadel, 22.”Hopefully there won’t be any war,” he added.Large swathes of the city centre were closed to traffic for the occasion and soldiers deployed on nearby roads.Sandra Naim, 37, said ” I hope that peace will reign in this beautiful country that unites all sects and religions.””We thank the pope for his visit, which sows peace and hope,” she said.Before the service, the pope prayed at the site of a catastrophic port explosion on August 4, 2020 which killed more than 220 people, injured over 6,500 and devastated swathes of the capital.At a monument to those killed, with shipping containers, piles of rubble and the facility’s devastated grain silos visible nearby, the pope lit a lamp after praying silently.He then shook hands, blessed and spoke with survivors and relatives of victims, including children, many of whom were holding photos of their loved ones.- ‘Justice’ -Cecile Roukoz, a lawyer whose brother died in the explosion, said “We are very grateful for this visit from the pope… We know that he raises his voice” for justice “and we need justice for our brothers and all the victims of this explosion”.Nobody has been held to account for the Beirut port blast, one of the largest ever non-nuclear explosions.Pope Leo’s first stop on Tuesday was at a psychiatric hospital run by nuns near the capital, where he was greeted by staff and patients to cheers, applause and a shower of rose petals.An emotional Marie Makhlouf, mother superior of the congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Cross, thanked the pope for being “a father to the forgotten, the abandoned and the marginalised”.”We cannot forget those who are most fragile,” Pope Leo said, paying tribute to the work of the facility.On Monday, the pontiff urged Christian and Muslim religious leaders to combat intolerance, and received a rock-star welcome from some 15,000 young people, urging them to “be the source of hope that the country is waiting for”.