Lebanon

Lebanese Christians in Debel are celebrating the gift of a new statue of Jesus on the cross after a recent act of desecration by two Israeli soldiers drew global outrage.

Catholic leaders in the Holy Land expressed their "unreserved condemnation" after a picture of an Israeli soldier striking the head of a statue of Jesus in Debel, a Christian village in southern Lebanon, went viral on social media.

Despite living in perpetual fear of being caught in the crossfire, the Maronite Catholic population in southern Lebanon has defied evacuation orders, being deeply attached to their ancient homeland and rooted in and invincible faith.

Lebanese Maronite Catholic priest Father Pierre al-Rahi was commemorated by Pope Leo XIV ahead of the cleric's funeral.

A Lebanese Maronite Catholic priest has been killed in southern Lebanon when an Israeli artillery tank fired on a house March 9, Catholic officials and media said -- reports that have since been confirmed by OSV News.

The Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon issued a statement in which they called "for an immediate halt to the spiral of violence" currently taking place in the Middle East.

As the scourge of war spreads across the Middle East, including Lebanon, the ones paying the ultimate price are the innocent men, women and children who want to live in peace, said Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop Georges Iskandar of Tyre.

Pope Leo XIV ended his stay in Lebanon with what he termed "a heartfelt appeal: may the attacks and hostilities cease."

At a shrine topped by a 28-foot-tall statue of Our Lady of Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV listened to stories of unshakable faith amid war, injustice and suffering.

Acknowledging the existence of "circumstances that are highly complex, conflictual and uncertain," Pope Leo XIV arrived in Lebanon preaching peace.