In a Beirut square once synonymous with Lebanon’s sectarian divide, Pope Leo XIV brought together Christian and Muslim leaders on Monday, calling on them to work for peace in their divided nation.
Lebanon, whose political system has long been based on religious balance, suffered through years of sectarian conflict, and faith leaders at Monday's interreligious meeting emphasized the importance of unity and coexistence.
Speaking from Martyrs' Square, which served as a demarcation dividing Beirut along sectarian lines during Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, Leo called on the leaders to be "builders of peace: to confront intolerance, overcome violence and banish exclusion, illuminating the path toward justice and concord".
He sat surrounded by the spiritual heads of 16 Muslim and Christian denominations, out of the 18 recognized by Lebanon.
The Jewish and Ismaili faiths were not represented, as those recognized communities have very few members remaining in the country.
As the call to prayer was heard from the nearby Mohammed al-Amin mosque, which is located next to a church, clerics gave speeches and a children's choir sang Christian and Muslim hymns.
Under a pavilion erected for the occasion, the leaders stood on a stage bearing the word "peace" in French and Arabic.
The meeting "highlights that Lebanon is a country with great experience in dialogue and meetings between sects", said Naila Tabbara, founder of the Adyan foundation, which focuses on interreligious rapprochement.
"Even in the most difficult times, this dialogue has continued," she added, saying that the pope wished to show that "solidarity that transcends affiliations does not exist in any other country" in the region.
Lebanon's religious diversity is reflected in its political system.
The president of the republic must always be a Maronite Christian, the only Christian leader in the Arab world, while the prime minister must be a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of parliament a Shiite Muslim.
But political and religious divisions have repeatedly been exacerbated by Lebanon's many crises, most recently the war between the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and Israel.
Shiite Hezbollah had opened a "solidarity front" with its ally Hamas in Gaza by launching rockets at Israel, sparking anger in other Lebanese communities.
Leo's visit, part of his first trip abroad as pontiff, "underscores the importance of dialogue and coexistence in Lebanon", said Fuad Khreis, a Shiite cleric.
"Lebanon is strong because of its people and all its sects... We must stand together as one and talk to each other, especially in light of the difficult situation we are suffering through."
In his speech, Pope Leo said coexistence in Lebanon was "a mission that remains unchanged throughout the history of this beloved land: to bear witness to the enduring truth that Christians, Muslims, Druze and countless others can live together and build a country united by respect and dialogue".
He concluded the meeting by planting an olive tree, saying it "not only adorns this space in which we gather today, but it is also revered in the sacred texts of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, serving as a timeless symbol of reconciliation and peace".
