The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, Hezbollah, issued a letter on Saturday warmly welcoming Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lebanon, expressing deep appreciation for the visit and emphasizing the country's unique role as a bridge between religious communities.

In its statement, Hezbollah underscored that coexistence and national consensus are essential to the stability of Lebanon’s political system and its national security, reaffirming the movement’s support for peaceful communal harmony in a country known for its religious and cultural diversity. "Lebanon, in its diverse makeup, serves as a civilizational bridge between the followers of the two divine messages: Christianity and Islam," the statement read.

Hezbollah also praised the Pope’s ongoing advocacy for human rights. "In your guidance and messages, we see a clear commitment to human rights and the necessity of respecting and protecting them," it added.

Addressing global conflict, the group pointed to a deeper root cause, highlighting "the unwillingness of some to acknowledge or respect the rights of others" as a fundamental source of today’s unrest around the world.

The visit by Pope Leo XIV comes at a critical moment for Lebanon, as the country faces ongoing political and economic challenges, as well as rising regional tensions. He is scheduled to arrive in Lebanon on Sunday, coming from Turkiye, in what will be his first trip abroad since assuming the Holy See.

Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lebanon is a call for unity: Bishop Matar

On the other hand, Patriarchal Vicar General Bishop Boulos Matar said on Friday that Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lebanon carries an essential message, telling the Lebanese that their country is a land of mission and that the Pope supports any consensus the Lebanese reach among themselves. 

In an interview for Al Mayadeen, Bishop Matar noted that the Pope’s first message after assuming the papacy is the pursuit of peace, adding, “We are not only seekers of peace, but we work for a peace built on justice and fraternity.”

He emphasized that “no peace can last if it relies only on political balances; true peace is the one that takes root within. That is why we must seek spiritual peace,” describing peace as something “built stone by stone,” inspired by Saint Charbel, "who taught us to love all people.”

The Patriarchal Vicar General also said that “Muslims and Christians have been called from the beginning to come together,” being the brethren they are. Both Muslims and Christians “belong to this land of the East,” he stated, asserting that Christians “must not be uprooted from their homeland.”

He also affirmed that “the south [South Lebanon] is our south, and we defended our southern border when the Zionists sought to push it to the Litani or the Awwali.”