As southern Lebanon faces renewed conflict and upheaval, the country’s Foreign Minister requests assistance from the Holy See to “preserve the Christian presence” near the border with Israel.
Vatican News
Lebanon has appealed to the Holy See for help in order to preserve the presence of Christians in the south of the country.
Since the outbreak of renewed conflict in the Middle East, Christians near the border with Israel have endured relentless bombardments and evacuation orders, triggering a massive humanitarian crisis.
Youssef Raggi, Lebanon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, spoke with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, by phone on Tuesday, which was confirmed by the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni.
Mr. Raggi posted on X that the two men exchanged “views on the latest developments in Lebanon and on the difficult situation facing the border villages in the south.”
“I asked the Holy See to intervene and mediate to help preserve the Christian presence in those villages, whose residents have always supported the Lebanese state and its official military institutions, and have never departed from this commitment,” he said.
According to Mr. Raggi, Archbishop Gallagher affirmed that “the Holy See is making all the necessary diplomatic contacts to halt the escalation in Lebanon and to prevent the displacement of citizens from their lands.”
The Archbishop also assured his and the Pope’s prayers for the people of Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Foreign Minister.
On Monday, a Maronite Catholic priest was killed in Qlayaa, Lebanon, as he assisted parishioners whose house had been struck by a tank round.
In response, Pope Leo XIV prayed for Fr. Pierre El-Rahi, for “all innocents, including many children, and for those assisting them,” and for cessation of hostilities.
The Pope made his first Apostolic Journey abroad to Lebanon and Türkiye in December 2025.
While in Lebanon, he lamented the displacement of Christians from the country, which hosts the largest Christian community in the Middle East.
Christians in Lebanon, said Pope Leo on that occasion, bear the mission to build a “civilization of love and peace.”
