Beirut: As Lebanon prepares to welcome Pope Leon XIV on an official visit, Hezbollah issued a public letter addressed to the Pontiff, expressing both appreciation for his upcoming trip and concerns over the political and humanitarian situation in the region.
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, the letter, which comes on the eve of the Pope’s arrival, touches on themes of justice, peace, and shared human values, while strongly criticizing what it describes as Israeli aggression in Palestine and Lebanon, and the international community’s complicity in ongoing violations.
The letter opens with a formal welcome to Pope Leon XIV, emphasizing Lebanon’s unique geographic location and religious diversity, which Hezbollah claims is crucial for the nation’s stability and security. The message recalls Pope John Paul II’s description of Lebanon as “not merely a nation, but a message,” highlighting the country’s role as a civilizational bridge among various religious, cultural, and secular traditions worldwide.
Hezbollah underscores the importance of human rights and criticizes the lack of respect for these rights by certain entities, which it claims leads to conflicts driven by greed and domination. The letter specifically condemns the actions of the Israeli state in Gaza and Lebanon, accusing it of stripping Palestinians of their rights and pursuing expansionist ambitions in Lebanon.
The letter calls upon Pope Leon XIV to use his influence to oppose what Hezbollah describes as acts of genocide in Gaza and continuous aggression in Lebanon. It emphasizes Hezbollah’s commitment to coexistence, democracy, and national sovereignty while rejecting foreign interference and the imposition of external political conditions.
In closing, Hezbollah appeals to the Pope’s sense of justice, urging him to support Lebanon against what it views as Zionist oppression and aggression, in line with Christian teachings of love, justice, and human dignity.