The ladies of The Pastoral Woman’s Committee in the Diocese of Jounieh received the news of the Pope’s visit to Lebanon with joy and hope. We accompanied Pope Leo XIV in Harissa, at the youth gathering in Bkerki, and at the Holy Mass on the Beirut waterfront.
A messenger of peace in the homeland of peace
Our love for our country and our attachment to it remain unshakable — Lebanon, small in size yet great in its mission, a homeland of dignity for every human being. Lebanon is a message of freedom and plurality for both West and East. We shall neither die, nor leave, nor despair, nor surrender. We remain here — the light of the East, children of hope and resurrection, messengers of love and goodness.
A historic visit under the slogan “Blessed are the peacemakers”, opening new horizons. Pope Leo emphasised that peace is both a gift and an ongoing workshop. Here, peace is more than a mere word: peacemaking is a renewed and continuous beginning. The seeker of peace must accept and embrace reality as it is, for peace means knowing how to live together.
Lebanon is a diverse country, and we work so that one common language may unite us: the language of hope.
The role of women in their persistent and patient commitment to preserving and building peace
The period of the Pope’s presence among us was a spiritual time; His Holiness helped us cross from the shore of discouragement to the shore of faith. In the reverence of the prayers and the unifying gatherings, we saw a clear call to rebuild the human person from within. The Supreme Pontiff sowed within us the certainty that no matter how long Lebanon’s night lasts, it must be followed by the dawn of resurrection. The Pope called upon the Church and the faithful to be bridges of encounter, not walls of isolation. Socially and humanly, and this was perhaps the most visible aspect, the Pope became the voice of the voiceless. We felt his solidarity with the tears of mothers, the anxiety of emigrating youth, and the suffering of the poor. His Holiness did not come merely to shake hands, but to speak to broken hearts, demanding every citizen’s right to live with dignity.
The Pope stressed the essential role of women in their persistent and patient commitment to preserving and building peace. He also affirmed that their participation in social and political life, as well as in the life of their religious communities — taking into account the youthful energy they carry — is, throughout the world, an element of true renewal.
On the final day, the Pope met at Deir Al-Salib with the world of pain and those who suffer, and there he gave voice to those who have none. He then paused before the Port of Beirut, where he prayed, greeted, met, dried tears, and expressed solidarity in mourning.
“O Lebanon, arise!”
The Pope concluded his visit with the Divine Liturgy in Beirut before tens of thousands of Lebanese. In the final part of his homily, he proclaimed: ‘O Lebanon, arise! not as an emotional appeal, but as a call to strip hearts of enmity and weapons, and to awaken within them the dream of a unified Lebanon founded on justice and peace.
And now we say: The Pope’s visit begins the moment it ends! So let us go forth and work!
Testimonial voices
“Lord, I want to thank you for the unity that brought together all denominations during the presence of Pope Leo” – Viviane Azar
“May the Spirit give our hands as women the strength to rebuild, to console, and to open paths of peace for our families and our country” – Marcelle Abi Saad Nakhoul
“As the head of a kindergarten, I felt an inner voice reminding me that the educational mission is also a mission of the soul. […] Thus, for the past two weeks, I have gathered the teaching team to build, step by step, a spiritual path suitable for the little ones. We have looked for traces of Pope Leo’s life, reflected on his messages of peace, chosen simple yet profound prayers, songs that awaken joy, and spiritual activities that speak to the pure language of childhood”- Helene Chbeir Hawa
“As Lebanon goes through one of the darkest periods in its modern history — stifled by an economic crisis, paralysed by political instability, and drained by the exodus of its youth — the visit of Pope Leo XIV takes on an exceptional significance. It transcends the ceremonial and religious framework to stand as a signal of hope sent to a people who struggle daily for their dignity. In a context of institutional collapse, growing poverty, and widespread distrust, the arrival of the Holy Father places Lebanon once again in the spotlight of the international community” – Marlène Kassouf abou sejaan
“Lord, may this papal visit become a source of peace for Lebanon” – Sr.Rafka el-kareh
“Lord, may the visit of Pope Leo to Lebanon be a sign of happiness, joy, and hope” – Nawal Jreij Abi Khalil
Fadia Hayek, Committee’s coordinator, The Pastoral Woman’s Committee
Viviane Sebrini, The Pastoral Woman’s Committee
