Statement issued by the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon
March 5, 2026
Statement issued by the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in LebanonIn light of the dangerous escalation of armed conflicts in Lebanon and the Middle East, and the accompanying loss of innocent lives, displacement of families, and worsening human suffering, the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon expresses its deep concern about the current situation and the potential for wider confrontations in the region with grave consequences for its people.
The ongoing cycle of violence threatens human dignity, a gift from God, and undermines the foundations of justice and stability. Faced with this painful reality, we echo the words of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, who emphasized: “Violence is never the right choice; we must always choose good.” This clear moral appeal reminds us that peace is not a secondary or circumstantial option, but a human duty and a collective responsibility. Therefore, we call for an immediate end to the cycle of violence and a return to constructive dialogue and responsible diplomacy, based on the pursuit of the good of peoples who yearn for a peaceful life founded on justice and dignity.
From Lebanon, the land of the message and coexistence, we call upon our leaders to fully shoulder their national responsibilities, to work towards keeping our country neutral in regional conflicts, to preserve its internal unity, and to strengthen civil peace. We also urge all religious communities, both individuals and political parties, to rally around the Lebanese government and its decisions, particularly the decision to confine weapons to the state, thereby safeguarding national sovereignty, bolstering national stability, and preventing any tampering with the nation's destiny.
We also appeal to the international community and relevant bodies to make every effort to prevent further escalation and to establish just solutions that preserve the rights of peoples and protect human dignity, because justice is the surest path to a stable and lasting peace.
We appeal to our faithful children and all people of goodwill, asking them to provide assistance to their steadfast brothers in their villages, and calling on them to persevere in fervent prayer for peace in Lebanon and the Middle East, and for the safety of innocent civilians, so that leaders may choose the path of dialogue instead of destruction, and strive for the common good instead of the tragedy of wars.
We also renew our call to welcome and embrace our displaced, peaceful civilian brothers and sisters in the spirit of the Gospel, as the Lord Jesus said: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35), so that the witness of love may remain stronger than the logic of violence.
| Raphael Badros XXI | Youssef Al-Absi | Ignatius Joseph III Younan | Bechara Boutros al-Rahi |
| Catholicos Patriarch of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Catholics | Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Alexandria and Jerusalem of the Melkite Greek Catholics | Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch | Patriarch of Antioch and All the East |
Source: https://apecl.org/
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