Lebanese Ministry of Information
Pope Leo XIV concluded his historic three-day visit to Lebanon with an official farewell ceremony held in his honor at the VIP terminal at Rafik Hariri International Airport, in the presence of President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, as well as various cabinet ministers, members of parliament, and military and religious leaders.
In his delivered word, President Aoun addressed the Pope, saying, “Your Holiness Pope Leo XIV, we meet today at the conclusion of a visit that will remain engraved in the memory of Lebanon and its people. Over the past few days, you brought to Lebanon words of hope and optimism, toured its regions, and met with its people, who welcomed you with great affection from all sects and affiliations, reflecting their enduring yearning for peace and stability.”
Aoun considered that the Pope’s visit to Lebanon bears a message of peace, a call for reconciliation, and an affirmation that this small country, great in its message, still constitutes a model of coexistence and of human values that unite and not separate.
“In your words, and in your meetings with the people of this country, we sensed the depth of your love for Lebanon and its people, and the sincerity of your desire for it to remain a land of message, a land of dialogue, a land of openness, a land of freedom and dignity for all,” the President went on, thanking the Pope for graciosuly listening to the Lebanese and for entrusting Lebanon with the message of peace.
“I, in turn, tell you that we have heard your message. We will continue to embody it, and with our gratitude, we still have one wish, Your Holiness: that we may always be in your prayers, and that your sermons to every believer and leader in this world may include the affirmation that our people are a people of faith who reject death and departure, a people of faith who have decided to persevere with love, peace, and truth…a people of faith who deserve life and are worthy of it,” the President asserted.
For his part, the Pope said in his delivered word, “Leaving is harder than arriving. We were together, and in Lebanon, being together is contagious. I found here people who do not like isolation but rather convergence…If arriving means gently entering into your culture, then leaving this land means carrying you in my heart. We are not parting, then, but after we have met, we will move forward together….and we hope to involve in this spirit of brotherhood and commitment to peace the entire Middle East, even those who consider themselves enemies today.”
The Pope marked the profound devotion that the people of Lebanon hold for Our Lady, the Virgin Mary, beloved by both Christians and Muslims, adding, “I prayed at the shrine of Saint Charbel and realized the deep spiritual roots of this country: the sweet fragrance of your history sustains the difficult journey toward the future!”
He continued, “My brief visit to the port of Beirut, where the explosion devastated not only the place but also the lives of so many, deeply moved me. I prayed for all the victims, and I carry with me the pain and the thirst for truth and justice for the many families and for your entire country.”
“In these past few days, I have met many faces and shaken many hands, drawing from this physical and spiritual connection a surge of hope. You are as strong as the cedar trees of your beautiful mountains, and as fruitful as the olives that grow in the plains, in the south, and near the sea. I greet all the regions of Lebanon that I have not been able to visit: Tripoli and the North, the Bekaa Valley, and the South, which is experiencing a particular state of conflict and instability. I embrace everyone and send my wishes for peace to all,” the Pope affirmed.
He also made a heartfelt appeal, saying, “Let the attacks and hostilities cease. Let no one think anymore that armed fighting brings any benefit. Weapons kill, but negotiation, mediation, and dialogue build. Let us all choose peace, and let peace be our path, not just a goal.”
Pope Leo concluded: “Let us remember what Saint Pope John Paul II told you: Lebanon is more than a country, it is a message! Let us learn to work together and hope together so that this may be achieved. May God bless the people of Lebanon, and all of you, and the Middle East, and all of humanity! Thank you and goodbye!”
After concluding his speech, His Holiness headed towards the steps of the plane awaiting him at Beirut Airport’s runway, accompanied by President Aoun and the First Lady, where he greeted the faithful who were there to bid him farewell. The Pope then boarded the plane, concluding his historic visit to Lebanon.
