The Vice President of the Supreme Islamic Shia Council, Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, stressed in an interview with Al Mayadeen aired on Sunday the importance of the upcoming visit of the Pope to Lebanon, saying it comes to a country that is “diverse and multi-sectarian, and still suffering under the weight of aggression and injustice.”

In the interview, Al-Khatib said the visit represents a message directed to Lebanon, which is “experiencing a brutal aggression,” emphasizing that it concerns all Lebanese, “especially the members of the Shia community, who are the most affected by the Israeli aggression against Lebanon.”

He affirmed that the Pope’s message is one of “peace and protection of coexistence, which we believe in and defend,” noting that the visit should become “a unifying moment for the Lebanese during these difficult circumstances to search for common ground.”

Al-Khatib stated that the visit carries a clear call to silence voices of sedition, adding that those fueling division “should listen carefully to this message.”

Support for Palestine and rejection of sectarian manipulation

The top cleric highlighted the Vatican’s recent positions on Palestine, describing them as positive developments that mark “an important shift,” expressing hope they will continue to progress. He stressed that “our national and moral responsibility is greater than others in confronting the brutal Israeli aggression and upholding the rights of the Palestinian people.”

He warned that Lebanese must recognize the dangers of the current period, saying division in Lebanon is “political, not religious at all,” and called on some Lebanese officials to refrain from using religious matters in political disputes.

Al-Khatib reiterated that a just state must be built upon respect for human dignity and citizenship, values that he said both religions uphold. He asked, “Why do we always need external interventions to fix matters among ourselves?”

He called on all religious authorities to encourage Lebanese to stand united in the face of aggression, reminding that Lebanon represents a message of coexistence that the enemy is trying to dismantle. “We must convey a message to the world about the shared values, love, brotherhood, and unity held by both religions,” he said.

He recalled the position of Imam Musa Al-Sadr, who emphasized that Lebanon’s sects are a blessing, not a curse, in confronting aggression. “We are not tribes; we are united by common values, and Lebanon forms a wonderful model through its sectarian diversity,” he added.

Resistance, peace are inseparable

Al-Khatib underscored that there is no contradiction between peace and resistance. “Resistance is peace for its people, and it is what defends them in the face of aggression,” he said, stressing that “resistance defends peace and is not incompatible with it.”

He warned that the enemy’s presence threatens the entire region, stating that the problem lies in “the expansionist Israeli project itself,” citing aggression not only against Lebanon but also Syria. “Although the new Syrian government declared it was not seeking a war with the entity, it did not escape aggression,” he said.

The cleric concluded by urging collective action: “As long as the Palestinian cause remains unresolved, there will be no solution in the region. Everyone must stand against this enemy, which poses a threat to humanitarian values and all of humanity.”

Lebanon calls for immediate UN action to halt violations

Beirut has repeatedly urged the Security Council and the UN Secretariat to act swiftly to stop "Israel’s" encroachment on Lebanon, compel it to dismantle the two structures, and ensure a full withdrawal to the south of the Blue Line from all areas it continues to occupy, including five border sites cited in the filing.

The government also pressed the UN to prevent "Israel" from imposing any so-called “buffer zones” inside Lebanese territory and to uphold the rights of forcibly displaced Lebanese civilians to return to their border villages.

The Lebanese government reiterated that it remains prepared to enter negotiations aimed at ending the occupation and halting ongoing violations. It also reaffirmed its commitment to implementing Resolution 1701 in full.

The filing also outlined steps taken by the Lebanese Armed Forces to advance the national plan to consolidate a state monopoly on arms and reinforce military deployment south of the Litani River. These efforts, the complaint said, are carried out in coordination with UNIFIL and through established mechanisms designed to maintain stability along the border.