{"id":17197,"date":"2025-12-02T17:56:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T22:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/?p=17197"},"modified":"2025-12-02T23:37:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T04:37:30","slug":"pope-leo-to-religious-leaders-be-builders-of-peace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/pope-leo-to-religious-leaders-be-builders-of-peace\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Leo to Religious Leaders: \u2018Be Builders of Peace\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"h-religious-leaders-in-lebanon-must-be-builders-of-peace-pope-leo-xiv-said-during-an-ecumenical-and-interreligious-gathering-in-martyrs-square-in-central-beirut-where-he-pointed-out-that-many-minarets-and-church-bell-towers-were-in-easy-view\">Religious leaders in Lebanon must be \u201cbuilders of peace,\u201d Pope Leo XIV said during an ecumenical and interreligious gathering in Martyrs\u2019 Square in central Beirut, where he pointed out that many minarets and church bell towers were in easy view.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To build peace is to \u201cconfront intolerance, overcome violence, and banish exclusion, illuminating the path toward justice and concord for all, through the witness of your faith,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe people of Lebanon, while embracing different religions, stand as a powerful reminder that fear, distrust and prejudice do not have the final word, and that unity, reconciliation, and peace are possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amid the region\u2019s ongoing conflicts, \u201chope emerges when we look to what unites us: our shared humanity and our faith in a God of love and mercy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/20251201T1215-POPE-LEBANON-FAITH-PEACE-18087631-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Pope Leo XIV waters an olive tree after he and other religious leaders planted it during an ecumenical and interreligious meeting.\" class=\"wp-image-17199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/20251201T1215-POPE-LEBANON-FAITH-PEACE-18087631-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/20251201T1215-POPE-LEBANON-FAITH-PEACE-18087631-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/20251201T1215-POPE-LEBANON-FAITH-PEACE-18087631-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/20251201T1215-POPE-LEBANON-FAITH-PEACE-18087631-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/20251201T1215-POPE-LEBANON-FAITH-PEACE-18087631-1600x1066.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/20251201T1215-POPE-LEBANON-FAITH-PEACE-18087631.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pope Leo XIV waters an olive tree after he and other religious leaders planted it during an ecumenical and interreligious meeting in a tent at Martyrs&#8217; Square in Beirut on 1 December. With the pope are Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X of Antioch, left, and Sami Abi Al-Muna, spiritual leader of Lebanon&#8217;s Druze community, right. (photo: CNS\/Vatican Media)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III Younan welcomed the pope to the 1 December gathering, which he noted coincided with two important anniversaries: the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/nicaea-an-elusive-goal\/\">Council of Nicaea<\/a>&nbsp;and the 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council\u2019s declaration \u201cNostra Aetate\u201d on interreligious dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Religious leaders who attended included those from Lebanon\u2019s various Eastern-rite Catholic churches, as well as from the Sunni and Shiite Muslim communities, the Druze, the Greek Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox churches, and the Evangelical Christian community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In his remarks, the pope compared the \u201croots of the cedars and olive trees\u201d with the Lebanese people, \u201cscattered throughout the world yet bound together by the enduring strength and timeless heritage of their homeland.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nayla Tabbara, who works to promote interreligious dialogue in Lebanon, said the comparison was meaningful within Lebanese culture, since both trees are national symbols of Lebanon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"685\" src=\"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/20251201T1030-POPE-LEBANON-FAITH-PEACE-18087521-1024x685.jpg\" alt=\"Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with Sheikh Ali Kaddour, head of the Alawi Islamic Council in Lebanon.\" class=\"wp-image-17200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/20251201T1030-POPE-LEBANON-FAITH-PEACE-18087521-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/20251201T1030-POPE-LEBANON-FAITH-PEACE-18087521-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/20251201T1030-POPE-LEBANON-FAITH-PEACE-18087521-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/20251201T1030-POPE-LEBANON-FAITH-PEACE-18087521-1536x1027.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/20251201T1030-POPE-LEBANON-FAITH-PEACE-18087521-1600x1070.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/20251201T1030-POPE-LEBANON-FAITH-PEACE-18087521.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with Sheikh Ali Kaddour, head of the Alawi Islamic Council in Lebanon during an ecumenical and interreligious meeting in Martyrs&#8217; Square in Beirut. (CNS photo\/Lola Gomez)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was especially moving because Pope Leo linked the olive tree to light, which is a reference to a Quranic verse,\u201d said Ms. Tabbara, co-founder of the Adyan Foundation, which promotes social harmony and cultural understanding in the region.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In mid-November, Ms. Tabbara had hoped the pope\u2019s visit would allow the Lebanese to showcase their \u201centire history of living together, which, despite the civil war continues to this day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She said her wish was granted, as Pope Leo emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue, referring to the apostolic exhortation \u201cEcclesia in Medio Oriente,\u201d which Pope Benedict XVI&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/pope-delivers-exhortation-in-lebanon\/\">signed and promulgated in Beirut in 2012<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Msgr. Peter I. Vaccari, CNEWA president, who was in Lebanon for the apostolic trip, said Pope Leo \u201ctook the opportunity of this meeting in Martyrs\u2019 Square to intentionally highlight the invaluable role of Lebanon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-pope-as-an-international-figure-not-just-as-a-catholic-figure-recognizes-the-importance-of-lebanon-on-the-international-stage-because-of-its-history-and-its-current-composition-multiple-cultures-multiple-faiths-multiple-forms-of-politics-and-he-has-seen-in-lebanon-a-way-in-which-they-can-hopefully-go-forward-he-said-nbsp\">\u201cThe pope, as an international figure, not just as a Catholic figure, recognizes the importance of Lebanon on the international stage, because of its history and its current composition, multiple cultures, multiple faiths, multiple forms of politics, and he has seen in Lebanon a way in which they can hopefully go forward,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>He underlined how CNEWA \u201cplays an important role in interfaith dialogue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWherever we work, we never ask about people\u2019s culture or faith,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe are there to promote a mission that transcends the divides between people and hopefully brings them together.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since August, CNEWA has partnered with the Adyan Foundation on a project promoting interreligious dialogue in 30 schools in Lebanon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After Pope Leo\u2019s remarks, various religious leaders made statements stressing the necessity for peace. Many referred to St. John Paul II\u2019s famous declaration that \u201cLebanon is more than a country; it is a message of freedom and an example of pluralism for East and West.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II said the pope\u2019s visit \u201ccomes at a sensitive moment in the history of this region, witnessing major upheavals and profound transformations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-people-of-this-land-yearn-for-a-peace-founded-on-justice-which-must-safeguard-human-dignity-and-freedom-under-a-state-governed-by-law-and-equality-in-rights-and-duties-he-said\">\u201cThe people of this land yearn for a peace founded on justice, which must safeguard human dignity and freedom under a state governed by law and equality in rights and duties,\u201d he said.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Referring to the war between Israel and Hezbollah and its impact on Lebanon, Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, vice president of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council, told Pope Leo: \u201cWe place the cause of Lebanon in your hands in the hope that the world may assist our country in overcoming its accumulated crises.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are not seekers of conflict, nor do we take up arms out of desire or inclination, nor do we willingly sacrifice our sons,\u201d he continued, referring to Hezbollah, a Muslim Shiite militia and political party that is&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/lebanese-church-leaders-fear-return-of-all-out-war\/\">refusing to disarm<\/a>&nbsp;as part of the ceasefire agreement with Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Linda Ghaddar, who participates in Muslim-Christian dialogue and collaborates with the Adyan Foundation, said \u201csince 2023, the war has deepened social and political divisions and increased sectarian tensions due to economic and security pressures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe dialogue has become more fragile in the face of political polarization,\u201d she said.&nbsp;\u201cInterfaith dialogue is now an existential necessity for ensuring national stability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On the second day of his visit to Lebanon, the pope underscored the central role of coexistence and diversity in the country during an ecumenical and interreligious gathering in Beirut.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70080,"featured_media":17198,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3083,2315,69,44],"class_list":["post-17197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advocating-for-justice-peace","category-lebanon","category-news","category-eastern-churches"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Pope Leo to Religious Leaders: \u2018Be 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