Pope Leo XIV appealed for unity, reconciliation, and renewed interreligious dialogue on Monday as he met with Christian, Muslim, and Druze religious leaders at the Martyr’s Square. 

Opening his address, the Pope described Lebanon as a “blessed land, exalted by the prophets of the Old Testament, who beheld in its towering cedars emblems of the righteous soul that flourishes beneath heaven’s vigilant gaze.” He invoked the memory of Pope Benedict XVI’s 2012 visit to Beirut, during which the late pontiff signed the Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, a document that underscored the Church’s enduring commitment to dialogue with other faiths.

Pope Leo noted that Lebanon’s skyline, where minarets rise alongside church bell towers, embodies the country’s deeply rooted religious coexistence and its people’s devotion to the one God.

“Here in this beloved land, may every bell toll, every adhān, every call to prayer blend into a single, soaring hymn not only to glorify the merciful Creator of heaven and earth, but also to lift a heartfelt prayer for the divine gift of peace," he said. 

Reflecting on years of turbulence across the Middle East, the Pope said the world has watched the region’s “arduous journey and the unceasing quest for the precious gift of peace.” Despite ongoing conflicts, he said Lebanon continues to demonstrate that trust can prevail over fear and that peaceful coexistence is attainable.

“In the midst of these struggles, a sense of hopefulness and encouragement can be found when we focus on what unites us: our common humanity and our belief in a God of love and mercy," he added. 

He highlighted Lebanon’s tapestry of Christian, Muslim, Druze, and other communities who strive to build a society grounded in mutual respect and dialogue. Turning to the Church’s mission, he recalled the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, which call on Catholics to cultivate relationships of respect and affection with believers of all religions.

“Dialogue, inspired by divine love, should embrace all people of goodwill, reject prejudice, discrimination and persecution, and affirm the equal dignity of every human being.”

He stressed that genuine interreligious dialogue grows from recognizing God’s presence beyond all human borders and invites people to seek the divine together “in reverence and humility.”

Pope Leo also evoked Lebanon’s natural symbols, noting the cedar forests long associated with the country’s identity and drawing particular attention to its olive groves, which he called “a tireless symbol of reconciliation and peace.” The tree’s longevity and resilience, he said, capture the perseverance needed to sustain coexistence.

“Its long life and remarkable ability to flourish even in the harshest environments symbolize endurance and hope, reflecting the steadfast commitment required to nurture peaceful coexistence,” he said. “From this tree flows oil that heals; a balm for physical and spiritual wounds manifesting the boundless compassion of God for all who suffer.”

In his closing remarks, the Pope honored the role of Lebanon’s global diaspora, saying the presence and faith of Lebanese abroad constitute a mission to advance peace, resist intolerance, confront violence, and advocate for justice.

“May the loving and maternal embrace of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and Queen of Peace, guide each of you, so that in your homeland, across the Middle East, and throughout the world, the gift of reconciliation and peaceful coexistence may flow forth ‘like the streams flowing from Lebanon,’ bringing hope and unity to all.”