BREAKING Pope Leo XIV Meets with Lebanon's President Aoun Concerning the Middle East Peace Plan as Danger for Christians Continues

Pope Leo XIV Meets Lebanese President to Discuss the Middle East Peace Agreement

On Thursday, August 20, Pope Leo XIV met with the President of the Republic of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, at the Vatican. Following his audience with the Pope, President Aoun held discussions with Holy See Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

Last Saturday, several Israeli aircraft attacked the villages of Ansar and Deir el Zahrani, killing eleven people, including three children and two women.

According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, the meetings focused primarily on the Trilateral Framework Agreement signed on June 26 by the United States, Israel, and Lebanon. The agreement aims to stabilize southern Lebanon's borders and establish a path toward a just and lasting peace. While the Holy See welcomed the initial signing, it expressed grave concerns over current implementation obstacles and pledged its continued support to help resolve them.

Lebanese Presidency Reaffirms Key Demands

In an official statement from the Lebanese Presidency, President Aoun expressed deep gratitude for the Holy See’s ongoing advocacy. He urged Vatican officials to maintain support for Lebanon’s positions—most notably demanding that Israel abide by the June 26 framework agreement. Aoun called for an immediate end to daily military strikes impacting civilians, villages, and infrastructure in southern Lebanon. He also requested a full withdrawal from occupied areas to enable the return of displaced citizens and allow for regional reconstruction. Furthermore, Aoun emphasized that these steps must align with the full restoration of the Lebanese government's authority across all national territory.

Persistent Conflict Along the Southern Border

The Vatican audience occurs amid escalating cross-border conflict. Despite a temporary ceasefire reached on April 17, military engagements have continued in southern Lebanon. While Israel asserts its operations strictly target Hezbollah infrastructure and personnel, Lebanese officials condemn the strikes as ongoing violations of sovereignty. Political dialogue remains stalled, with no firm date scheduled for the eighth round of U.S.-mediated negotiations intended to establish a broader roadmap toward peace.

Source - https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-08/pope-leo-xiv-receives-the-president-of-lebanon.html