Pope Leo XIV makes a surprise video call to 13 priests based in southern Lebanon, according to multiple outlets. The priests are located near Lebanon’s border with Israel, a region that is described as tense. During the call from Rome, the Pope tells the priests that they are in his prayers and expresses hope that peace will soon prevail along the frontier.
The reports frame the call as a gesture of comfort and solidarity with clergy serving in an area affected by ongoing regional strain. The outlets agree on the main elements of the incident: the number of priests contacted (13), the fact that the call comes unexpectedly, and the Pope’s location in Rome at the time of the video conversation.
PBS NewsHour also provides additional context about Lebanon’s religious demographics, noting that Christians make up about one-third of Lebanon’s population of roughly 5 million. It adds that Lebanon has the largest share of Christians in the Middle East.
