Pope Leo XIV Surprises 13 Lebanese Priests With Heartfelt Video Call
Pope Leo XIV surprised 13 priests from southern Lebanon on Wednesday with an unexpected video call from Rome, offering reassurance and prayers during a time of deep uncertainty in their communities.
The priests, serving villages near the Israeli border including Rmeish, Ain Ebel, and Marjayoun, were told they would be meeting with the Vatican’s ambassador to Lebanon. Instead, they found themselves speaking directly with the pontiff.
A Brief Moment of Connection
The call lasted about one minute, with the pope speaking in French. He urged the priests to remain in their hometowns and to pray with him for peace along the volatile frontier.
“Pray with me so that peace prevails. God willing, peace is near,” the pope told them, according to Father Najib Al-Amil of Rmeish.
“His words were reassuring, particularly as we live in constant worry over here,” Al-Amil told The Associated Press.
Context of Ongoing Tension
The video call comes amid heightened tensions in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire that began on April 17. Israeli and Hezbollah forces have continued military operations, and on Wednesday, Israel launched its first post-ceasefire strike in Beirut itself.
Christian villages have largely escaped the intense bombardment seen elsewhere in Lebanon, but residents remain deeply concerned. Recent weeks have brought troubling incidents, including the destruction of a Catholic convent in Yaroun and images of Israeli soldiers desecrating religious statues—actions that have drawn international criticism.
A Personal Pastoral Gesture
The Vatican confirmed that Leo had a scheduled meeting with the Holy See’s ambassador to Lebanon, though it declined to provide further details. The call reflects the pope’s pattern of direct pastoral outreach. In a November trip to Lebanon—his first journey abroad since his election last May—Leo connected deeply with the nation’s Christian communities. He now carries a photograph of a young Lebanese Muslim boy who welcomed him to the country. That boy was later killed in the conflict.
Christians comprise about one-third of Lebanon’s 5 million people, making it the nation with the largest Christian population in the Middle East. The pope’s personal attention to their struggles underscores the global church’s commitment to those living at the intersection of religious faith and geopolitical conflict.
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