Pope Leo XIV concluded his Apostolic Journey to Lebanon this Tuesday with an intense day marked by closeness to the sick, the memory of the victims of the Beirut port explosion, and a massive Eucharistic celebration at the Beirut Waterfront. Before departing for Rome, the Pontiff delivered a farewell speech centered on national reconciliation, the unity of the country, and the need to abandon all forms of violence.
The last day of the trip left a clear image of Leo XIV's pastoral style: a Pope who combines silent gestures of compassion with firm words on justice, human dignity, and peace.
Visit to the Hospital de la Croix: “Here dwells Jesus”
The first stage of the day took the Holy Father to the Congregation of the Suore Francescane della Croce, in Jal el-Dib, where he visited the patients and staff of the Ospedale de la Croix, a work founded by the Blessed Father Jacques (Father Yaakub). There he was received by the superior general and listened to the testimony of two sick people.
In his greeting, Leo XIV highlighted that in that hospital “Jesus dwells”, both in the sick and in those who care for them. He thanked the service of the nuns and the healthcare staff, encouraging them not to lose the joy of their mission despite the difficulties.
He recalled that the Church is called to care for the poor and that in the faces of the most fragile “one finds the same suffering of Christ”. To the sick, he addressed words of direct consolation: “You are in God's heart. He carries you in the palm of his hands”.
After imparting the blessing, the Pope made a private visit to the Saint Dominique pavilion before heading to the site of the Beirut port explosion.
Prayer at the Beirut port: remembrance of the victims and demand for truth
At the port, Leo XIV observed a moment of silence and prayer in memory of the victims of the August 4, 2020 explosion. The Pope expressed his closeness to the families and reaffirmed the need for truth and justice, a message that would resonate later in his farewell speech.
Massive Holy Mass at Beirut Waterfront: hope for a wounded country
Thousands of faithful gathered at the Beirut Waterfront for the celebration of the Holy Mass, in which the Pope centered his homily on the need to recover gratitude, even amid the social, political, and economic darkness that Lebanon is experiencing.
From the esplanade open to the Mediterranean, Leo XIV evoked the biblical beauty of Lebanon—the cedars, the perfume, the glory of the sanctuary—but did not shy away from its pain: “This beauty is overshadowed by poverty, instability, economic crisis, and the wounds of the past”.
He asked the Christians of the country to recognize and protect the “small lights” that keep hope alive: the simple faith of families, the work of parishes and congregations, the mission of priests and religious, and the commitment of the laity.
“We must cultivate these shoots”, he noted, warning against violence, the idolatry of money, and the temptation of discouragement. He also called to “disarm hearts”, overcome political and religious divisions, and rekindle the dream of a united Lebanon where justice and peace reign.
Before the farewell, he made an energetic call for peace in the Middle East, exhorting the Christians of the Levant to be “builders, proclaimers, and witnesses of peace” in a context marked by wars and prolonged tensions. He also offered prayers for Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong, and all peoples suffering violence.
Telegram to the President of Lebanon: gratitude and blessing
Upon taking off for Rome, the Pope sent a telegram to President Joseph Aoun expressing his “deep sense of gratitude” for the welcome received, assuring his prayers for the “peace, unity, and prosperity of the nation” and invoking abundant blessings upon the Lebanese people.
Farewell ceremony: “Lebanon is a message”
At Beirut International Airport, Leo XIV was bid farewell by the President of the Republic and the civil and religious authorities. In his final speech, the Pope acknowledged the cultural richness of the country and the strength of its people, “capable of resisting like cedars and bearing fruit like olives”.
He recalled his prayer at the tomb of Saint Charbel and its impact when visiting the devastated port, carrying with him “the pain and thirst for justice of so many families”.
The Pope made a direct call against all forms of violence:
“Let attacks and hostilities cease. Weapons kill; dialogue builds. Choose peace as a path, not just as a goal”.
He also invoked the famous words of Saint John Paul II—“Lebanon is more than a country, it is a message”—as a synthesis of the country's historical vocation to coexistence, and encouraged working together to make that ideal possible.
“May God bless Lebanon, the Middle East, and all humanity”, he concluded in Arabic before departing.