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, Patriarchal Vicar General Bishop Boulos Matar said on Friday.

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.”

In an exclusive interview for #AlMayadeen, Lebanon’s Patriarchal Vicar General, Bishop Boulos Matar, discussed the significance of Pope Leo’s visit to #Lebanon, highlighting its message of peace, unity, and reconciliation among the Lebanese people.#PopeLeo #ThePope pic.twitter.com/UlL9hvzfLr

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 28, 2025

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.”

Bishop Matar warned that “Lebanon declines culturally when we ignore each other and advances culturally when we communicate,” stressing that the Pope’s visit is an opportunity that should not be wasted.

“We, in Lebanon, are brethren,” he asserted, decrying that “our conflicts transcend that brotherhood.”

In an exclusive interview for #AlMayadeen, Lebanon’s Patriarchal Vicar General, Bishop Boulos Matar, emphasized the importance of unity between #Christians and #Muslims, warning that "we are all losers if we abandon each other" and highlighting the shared history and culture in… pic.twitter.com/Zrs644INtD

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 28, 2025

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.”

Bishop Matar noted that the Vatican has adopted the motto “Lebanon is more than a country, Lebanon is a message,” one rooted in freedom and coexistence.

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to arrive in Lebanon on Sunday, coming from Türkiye, in what will be his first trip abroad since assuming the Holy See.