As Lebanon awaits Pope Leo’s historic visit, our nation endures profound suffering. Israeli bombardment ravages parts of our land, while economic collapse grips the rest. These hardships do not discriminate—they strike at the heart of Lebanese life. Muslim and Christian families alike have lost loved ones, homes, livelihoods, and sacred spaces. The pain is shared.
When recently asked by an Arab queen if he felt safe visiting Lebanon, the Pope replied without hesitation: “Well, we’re going.” As a Lebanese citizen of Muslim faith, I welcome Pope Leo with deep respect and hopeful anticipation. His presence is not merely a gesture of solidarity with Lebanese Christians—it is a national moment that transcends sectarian lines and speaks to the collective aspirations of all Lebanese. In a region often fractured by intolerance and foreign interference, Lebanon remains a rare mosaic of coexistence. Pope Leo’s visit affirms this exceptionalism and offers a chance to reclaim our sovereignty, renew our unity, and reimagine our future—not as sects in competition, but as citizens with a common purpose.
The Pope’s visit will cast a global spotlight on Lebanon—not as a religious battleground, but as a multi-faith homeland. His moral authority can amplify the voices of the bereaved, displaced, and wounded, calling for accountability and a renewed commitment to peace. His message will carry the weight of humanity—and in Lebanon, in stark contrast to other neighbors in the region, humanity always needs to come first.
At a time when foreign powers, particularly the United States, exert growing pressure on our institutions, Pope Leo—himself the first American pontiff—can help shield Lebanon from undue influence. These pressures, often cloaked in diplomacy, threaten our fragile confessional balance and democratic foundations. Defending the state is not about defending a sect; it is about defending the republic. Institutions like the presidency and the army must remain symbols of national unity, not sectarian privilege. The Pope’s presence will send a clear message: Lebanon’s leadership must answer to its people, not to external agendas. Sovereignty is sacred. Lebanon’s future must be shaped by the Lebanese.
Familiar with America’s model of religious diversity and freedom, Pope Leo will recognize Lebanon’s pluralism not as a sectarian compromise, but as a national achievement—enshrined in a century-old Constitution. While neighboring states have marginalized or expelled religious minorities, Lebanon insists on a different path: one of mutual respect and constitutional protection. In our mosques and churches, our neighborhoods and schools, we live a daily miracle of coexistence. The Pope’s visit will honor this legacy and remind the world that Lebanon is not a failed state—it is a pluralistic republic that needs help as it reforms, and is worth defending. He will emphasize that religious diversity is not Lebanon's weakness; but its strength.
By following in the footsteps of Pope Francis’ 2021 visit to Ayatollah Sistani in Najaf, Pope Leo would be endorsing a framework of equal rights—not minority privilege. His presence would affirm that religious leadership can champion civic equality. By preaching faith as a bridge to justice, not a barrier, he can help Lebanon move from confessional protectionism to a republic grounded in a Bill of Rights—where every citizen, Christian, Muslim, Jew, or other, is equal under the law. This would not only be a political shift—it would be a moral one.
Ultimately, Pope Leo’s visit is a call to all Lebanese—regardless of faith—to recommit to unity, sovereignty, and human dignity. It is a moment to rise above sectarian divides and embrace a shared future rooted in justice, pluralism, and peace. But it is also a reminder to the world that Lebanon is not a broken state, but a beacon of moral courage, that should not be tampered with or allowed to falter. Therefore, to Lebanese Muslims, the Pope should never appear as a foreign religious figure, but as a fellow human being committed to justice and peace.
I invite all Lebanese—Christians, Muslims, and minorities—to welcome Pope Leo not because we share his faith, but because we share his values. Let his visit place Lebanon’s ideals at center stage once more. Let it be the moment the world remembers Lebanon the Message: a nation that embraces all faiths and excludes none. Above all, let this be the moment when the Pope prays for Lebanon to become not a land of divided minorities, but a united, multi-faith republic of equal citizens.
