and Seeks His Blessings at the Ecumenical and Interreligious Meeting in Martyrs' Square in Beirut

Prepared By: The Journalist Lea Adel Maamary

In Coordination with the Vatican and Under the Supervision of His Eminence Bishop Mar Matthias Charles Mrad, President of the Episcopal Committee for Christian-Muslim Dialogue, Emanating from the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops

via Mariam TV

on the eve of the visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon

on SAT 7 TV Channel

Upon the Arrival of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in Lebanon

on Voice of Lebanon Radio TV VDL24

About the Visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon

An Episode Within the "Community Knowledge" Series

Covering the Visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon

About the Visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon

Under the patronage and in the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Hosam Naoum, Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem, and Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and under the title "Our Lamps Are Burning," the All Saints Episcopal Church in Beirut held a recital of spiritual hymns and reflections with Archdeacon Fouad Dagher, on Saturday, November 29, 2025.

Participants were the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, Archdeacon Imad Zoorob, Pastor of All Saints Episcopal Church in Beirut, Priests and Clergy, Church and Ecumenical figures, and a crowd of believers.

The recital concluded with a gathering of fellowship, bringing the participants together in a spirit of Prayer, fraternity, and love.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV Visits Lebanon

November 30 - December 2

“Momentum”

28-11-2025

This issue includes reports, videos, news, articles, and a full coverage of the latest developments of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), as well as the Church, Ecumenical, and social events…

This is in addition to Letter to the Bishop of Rome His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, from the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs

You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/d4c8755ccd98/momentum-mecc-weekly-newsletter.

You can also subscribe to the Momentum Newsletter via the following link:

https://mecc.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?id=fd3381352a&u=1db32cafe9ea32b38eb90480a.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV

Professor Michel Abs

Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches

Holy Father,

I write to you, the custodian of the See of Peter, to tell you a story of faith and a homeland.

I write to you from the land of holiness, from Lebanon, from the land of Canaan, from the Antiochene Levant, where the Message was incarnated, and from where Paul and Peter set out to preach to the world; and from the Nile Valley, where the Family of the Incarnation took refuge, and where Mark sat preaching to an entire continent.

I write to you from Beirut, the city of interaction and light, which was shaken and partly destroyed by negligence and conspiracy, and whose people have not yet been given justice.

I write to you from the land of Jerusalem, the land of Melchizedek, the land of wine and leaven, the land of milk and honey, the land of fertility, fertility of the spirit before fertility of matter, where the Master whose Kingdom has no end was incarnated; the Sun of Justice, the source of Light, and the Redeemer of creation, this creation that insists on descending into the depths of hell at every historical turn.

I write to you from where the disciples were first called Christians, in Antioch, and where people witnessed massacres and displacement, so that it deserved to be called the land where every inch has a martyr.

Not far away, the first martyr in Christianity was stoned, and in every part of this region, the blood of martyrs was shed; therefore, my land is called the land of martyrs and saints.

In our country, Lebanon, which is dear to your heart, the pearl of the two Easts, which you visited upon your first departure from the Holy See, we have been living history, pain, and suffering for centuries. Our country is torn apart, begging for stability, security, and prosperity, but receiving only crumbs, while our people emigrate, voluntarily displacing themselves to all corners of the earth…

"29 Church figures and 30 journalists will accompany the Holy Father on the plane to Beirut"

As the historic visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon draws near, preparations continue on all Spiritual, logistical, youth, and media levels in order to receive the Supreme Pontiff in the best possible way.

In an exclusive discussion with the media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), His Eminence Bishop Mar Matthias Charles Mrad, the Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Beirut, and Coordinator of the Ecumenical and Interreligious meeting with His Holiness the Pope in Martyrs' Square, confirmed that 29 Church figures and 30 journalists will accompany the Holy Father on the plane to Beirut.

Until His Holiness Pope Leo arrives in Lebanon, the relevant authorities continue their work to ensure the smooth running of this historic visit. In this context, a Vatican delegation, accompanied by His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Archbishop Paolo Borgia, toured all the sites the Holy Father will visit to review the latest field and security preparations.

Noting that the Pope's visit to Lebanon is entitled "Blessed are the Peacemakers," and will take place from November 30 to December 2, 2025.

for the Occasion of the Visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon

Friday, November 28, at 6pm Beirut Time

An Episode Within the "Community Knowledge" Series