Closing his three-day visit to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV urged Lebanese to overcome political, sectarian, and religious divisions, emphasizing that the path to national renewal begins by “disarming the heart.”

In his homily at an open-air Mass attended by an estimated 120,000 people at Beirut’s Waterfront, the pontiff emphasized that healing the nation requires putting aside the figurative weapons of mistrust and division.

“We must put down the armor of our ethnic and political conflicts and open ourselves to encounter across religious lines,” he said. 

“Everyone must do their part, and we must unite our efforts so that this land can return to its former glory,” Pope Leo added, urging citizens to transform their struggles into collective action for peace.

Pope Leo’s comments on disarmament were symbolic, framed around reconciliation and unity rather than military action.

“Disarming our hearts is the only way forward,” he said, urging citizens to replace hostility with gratitude, hope, and a renewed commitment to their country.

Reflecting on Lebanon’s challenges, Pope Leo acknowledged the “cycles of violence” and the deep wounds they have left on the country. He admitted that the challenges of spreading hope in such circumstances, noting that disillusionment, uncertainty, and confusion often prevail. Yet he encouraged Lebanese to “find the small shining lights in the heart of the night” and to nurture gratitude to God alongside a commitment to their country.

Drawing on scripture, he said God reveals Himself “specifically to the little ones and to the humble, to those who do not attract attention and seemingly count for little or nothing and have no voice.” Citing the Book of Isaiah, he added: “The kingdom God wishes to build is a shoot, a small branch sprouting from a trunk. It is a small sign of hope that promises rebirth when everything else seems to be dying.” He stressed that God “can only be recognized by the little ones, by those who humbly know how to recognize the hidden details and traces of God in a seemingly lost story.”

Pope Leo also called on Lebanon’s Christian community to serve as a model of peaceful action and moral leadership. He praised their work in education and charitable initiatives, emphasizing that their dedication amid hardship is part of the broader effort to “disarm” society from hatred and violence.

He called on Lebanese to give thanks for God’s presence and assistance, saying, “You are with us and do not let us falter.” But he warned that gratitude must lead beyond personal consolation: “This gratitude must not remain an introspective and illusory consolation. It must lead to a transformation of the heart, a conversion of life, and a realization that God has made us precisely to live in the light of faith, the promise of hope, and the joy of charity.”

He concluded his homily with a passionate appeal: “Stand up! Be a home of justice and fraternity! Be a prophetic sign of peace for the whole of the Levant!” 

“While I carry your sufferings and hopes in my heart, I pray that this land of the Levant may always be illuminated by faith in Jesus Christ, the sun of justice,” he said, also praying that “through the grace of Christ, Lebanon will persevere in that hope that does not disappoint.”