During his audience with the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, Archbishop Paolo Borgia, Pope Leo XIV made a video call to approximately ten priests from the southern regions of Lebanon on May 6, offering them encouragement and the assurance of his prayers.
At around 9:45 a.m. local time, a group of parish priests from villages in southern Lebanon experienced a pleasant surprise as they appeared on small screens during the call, which lasted only a few minutes. The Pope exchanged greetings with smiles, a moment marked by the unexpected joy of the participants. The villages of the priests are along the border with Israel and are being worn down by missiles and bombardments.
Pope Leo reiterated his support, stating, “I encourage you for what you are doing,” and assured the priests of “his prayers,” while also imparting his apostolic blessing. The video call was initiated following a meeting between the Pope and Archbishop Borgia at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace that morning.
Archbishop Borgia has been actively providing aid to these border areas for months, collaborating with charitable organizations to deliver food, basic necessities, and messages of comfort, thereby reinforcing both the Church’s and the Pope's solidarity with the people suffering from the ongoing conflict. The call helped to make this connection more palpable, albeit through a virtual medium.
Pope Leo XIV visited Lebanon on his first international trip in December 2025 and continues to monitor the precarious situation in the nation through ongoing communication with civil and ecclesial representatives, ensuring the active support of the Holy See.
Prior to the call, the Nuncio had encouraged the priests to prepare for a group greeting from Rome. Some priests, like Father Toni Elias from the village of Rmeish, sensed a surprise might be coming. Father Toni described the experience as “beautiful,” sharing how the Pope’s message was one of encouragement and prayer, and he thanked him for his blessing, expressing hope for peace in the region. He assures, “it was a breath of hope and trust that was much needed.”
Additionally, gratitude was also directed toward Archbishop Borgia for his commitment to the clergy and people in southern Lebanon, as Father Toni noted, “He brings charity, he walks through danger, through bombed and destroyed roads, among exploded houses,” reflecting on the Archbishop’s loyalty to his mission.
