Pope’s Gratitude and Hopeful Call in Lebanon

In his sermon, he expressed his gratitude for the “intense days” he spent in Lebanon, affirming that “gratitude, though sometimes difficult, remains the path to faith and hope.” He called on the Lebanese to hold on to the “small lights that shine amidst the darkness,” praising the “faith of families, parishes, religious orders, priests, and laypeople who serve amidst challenges.” The Pope emphasized that “true gratitude must lead to a transformation of the heart, a rejection of the logic of violence, the idol of money, and surrender to evil,” asserting that “we must open our hearts, dismantle the shields of ethnic and political closure, and open religious affiliations to encounter.” He added, “O Lebanon, arise and stand. Be a home of justice and brotherhood… Be a prophecy of peace for the entire East.” After the mass, he headed to Rafic Hariri International Airport, where an official farewell ceremony concluded his historic visit to Lebanon.