Pope Leo XIV presided over a broad ecumenical and interreligious meeting this Monday in the emblematic Martyrs' Square of Beirut, one of the symbolic spaces of Lebanon's religious and cultural pluralism. The event brought together Christian leaders—Syro-Catholics, Maronites, Greek Orthodox, Armenians, and Protestants—and representatives of Sunni, Shiite, and Druze Muslims, as well as the Alawite community.
The Pontiff arrived around 3 p.m. and was received by the country's main religious leaders before heading to the platform where the other leaders awaited him. The program included greetings, a video testimony, and brief interventions from each religious tradition, followed by the Pope's central speech.
At the end, Leo XIV participated in the symbolic planting of an olive tree—regional emblem of peace and permanence—before moving to the Maronite Patriarchate of Bkerké.
A call for peace inspired by Lebanon's religious history
In his speech, the Pope highlighted the symbolic character of Martyrs' Square, where bell towers and countless minarets have coexisted for centuries in the same urban horizon. He emphasized that this visible coexistence expresses the country's historical vocation to be “land of encounter” among Abrahamic-rooted religions.
«In this extraordinary place where minarets and bell towers rise one next to the other, both elevating toward the sky, it testifies to the enduring faith of this land and the persevering dedication of its people to the one God. In this beloved land may every bell and every adhān resound together: may every call to prayer be founded in a single hymn, raised not only to glorify the merciful Creator of heaven and earth, but also to implore with sincere heart the divine gift of peace».
Leo XIV's appeal to a “one God” and a “single hymn” capable of harmonizing bells and adhān is, without a doubt, a romantic image of sketching a misunderstood ecumenism.
For the Catholic faith, the one God is the One and Triune God revealed by Jesus Christ. The Trinity is not a secondary detail, but the heart of Christianity. Trinitarian monotheism does not coincide with Islamic monotheism, which expressly rejects the divinity of Christ, nor with the current Jewish conception, which does not recognize the messianic fulfillment in Jesus. When speaking of the “one God” without this clarification, the Revelation is replaced by a religious lowest common denominator, accessible to all but faithful to none.
The same happens with the expression of a “single hymn”. The bells call to the worship of the incarnate God, dead and risen; the adhān proclaims, among other things, that “Allah is the greatest” and that Muhammad is his prophet. It is evident that the spiritual intentions are not homologous, nor are the doctrinal contents. Clarifying this does not go against the dignity of people of different religions, but it makes clear the call to conversion that the successor of Peter must proclaim.
Call to be builders of peace
On the other hand, addressing especially the Lebanese diaspora, Leo XIV pointed out that Lebanese people around the world carry with them a spiritual and cultural heritage that can contribute to justice, tolerance, and harmony. He encouraged them to be “builders of peace” in an era marked by tensions, violence, and uncertainty.
The Pope also invoked the protection of the Virgin Mary, so venerated in the country. He recalled that on March 25, the Lebanese national holiday, it is celebrated as a day of unity around Our Lady of Lebanon, whose sanctuary overlooks Harissa.
“May her maternal embrace —he said— guide everyone so that reconciliation and peaceful coexistence flow like the ‘springs that descend from Lebanon’”.
We leave below the complete words of Leo XIV:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I am deeply moved and immensely grateful to be among you today, in this blessed land: a land exalted by the prophets of the Old Testament, who saw in its imposing cedars symbols of the just soul that flourishes under the watchful gaze of heaven; a land where the echo of the Logos has never fallen into silence, but continues to call, from century to century, to those who wish to open their hearts to the living God.
In his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, signed here in Beirut in 2012, Pope Benedict XVI emphasized that «the nature and universal vocation of the Church require that she be in dialogue with the members of other religions. This dialogue in the Middle East is based on the spiritual and historical bonds that unite Christians with Jews and Muslims. This dialogue, which is not dictated primarily by pragmatic considerations of a political or social order, is supported above all on theological bases that challenge faith» (n. 19).
Dear friends, your presence here today, in this extraordinary place where minarets and bell towers rise one next to the other, both elevating toward the sky, testifies to the enduring faith of this land and the persevering dedication of its people to the one God. In this beloved land may every bell and every adhān resound together: may every call to prayer be founded in a single hymn, raised not only to glorify the merciful Creator of heaven and earth, but also to implore with sincere heart the divine gift of peace.
For many years, and especially in recent times, the eyes of the world have been fixed on the Middle East, cradle of the Abrahamic religions, observing the arduous path and the incessant search for the precious gift of peace. Sometimes humanity looks at the Middle East with fear and discouragement, in the face of such complex and prolonged conflicts. However, amid these struggles, hope and encouragement can be found when we focus on what unites us: our common humanity and our faith in a God of love and mercy. In an era when coexistence may seem like a distant dream, the people of Lebanon—even embracing diverse religions—represent a powerful example: fear, distrust, and prejudice do not have the last word here, while unity, reconciliation, and peace are always possible. This is, therefore, the mission that remains unchanged in the history of this beloved land: to testify to the enduring truth that Christians, Muslims, Druze, and many others can live together, building a country united by respect and dialogue.
Sixty years ago, with the promulgation of the declaration Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council opened a new horizon for encounter and mutual respect between Catholics and people of diverse religions, emphasizing that true dialogue and collaboration have their roots in love, the only basis for peace, justice, and reconciliation. This dialogue, inspired by divine love, embraces all people of good will and rejects prejudices, discriminations, and persecutions, affirming the equal dignity of every human being.
Although Jesus' public ministry took place mainly in Galilee and Judea, the Gospels also recount episodes in which He visited the region of the Decapolis—and also the surroundings of Tyre and Sidon—where He met the Syro-Phoenician woman, whose unwavering faith led Him to heal her daughter (cf. Mk 7:24-30). Therefore, this land means more than a simple place of encounter between Jesus and a pleading mother: it becomes a place where humility, trust, and perseverance overcome every barrier and meet the infinite love of God, which embraces every human heart. Indeed, this is «the very core of interreligious dialogue: the discovery of the presence of God beyond any border and the invitation to seek Him together with reverence and humility» [1]. If Lebanon is famous for its majestic cedars, the olive tree also represents a cornerstone of its heritage. The olive tree not only beautifies the space where we gather today, but it is also praised in the sacred texts of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, serving as a timeless symbol of reconciliation and peace. Its long life and extraordinary ability to thrive even in the most difficult environments symbolize resilience and hope, as well as the persevering commitment necessary to cultivate peaceful coexistence.
From this tree is extracted an oil that heals—a balm for physical and spiritual wounds—manifesting God's infinite compassion for all who suffer. Moreover, the oil also provides light, reminding us of the call to illuminate our hearts through faith, charity, and humility.
Just as the roots of cedars and olives penetrate deeply and spread widely through the earth, the Lebanese people are also scattered throughout the world, but united by the enduring strength and timeless heritage of their native land. Their presence here and in the world enriches the earth with their millennial heritage, but also represents a vocation. In an increasingly interconnected globalization, they are called to be builders of peace: to counter intolerance, overcome violence, and banish exclusion, illuminating the path to justice and concord for all through the witness of their faith.
Dear brothers and sisters, on March 25 each year, celebrated as a national holiday in your country, you gather to honor Mary, Our Lady of Lebanon, venerated in her sanctuary in Harissa, adorned with an imposing statue of the Virgin with arms open to embrace all the Lebanese people. May this loving and maternal embrace of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and Queen of Peace, guide each one of you, so that in your homeland, throughout the Middle East, and in the whole world, the gift of reconciliation and peaceful coexistence may flow «like the streams that descend from Lebanon» (cf. Sg 4:15). May they bring hope and unity to all. Thank you!