Pope and Patriarch of Antioch plant an olive tree of peace in Beirut

A landmark interreligious meeting took place in Beirut, where Pope Leo XIV and Patriarch John X of Antioch, together with representatives of Islam, planted an olive tree, an eternal symbol of peace. The event was a powerful call for reconciliation and dialog in the Middle East, a region plagued by conflict and instability.

The event took place in Martyrs’ Square in the Lebanese capital on the second day of the pontiff’s visit. Christian and Muslim religious leaders from Lebanon and Syria attended the meeting, according to Orthodoxia News Agency. Patriarch John X warmly welcomed the Pope to the land «where Christians first received this name» and spoke briefly about the historical witness of the Orthodox Church in the region.

In his address, Pope Leo XIV recalled Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Appeal «Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, « signed in Beirut in 2012, proclaiming the Church’s desire for dialog with representatives of other religions. The Pontiff noted that «the many minarets and bell towers of the country’s churches stand side by side,» testifying to the faith of the people of Lebanon in one God. He emphasized that despite all the difficulties, the Lebanese people prove that peace is possible when people focus on what unites them — «our common humanity and faith in one God of love and mercy.»

«Christians, Muslims, Druze and many others live together and strive to build a country united by respect and dialog, » the Pope added. He called for interreligious dialog, which he said stems from «discovering the presence of God beyond all borders.» Concluding his speech, the pontiff called Lebanese cedars and numerous olive trees «an indefatigable symbol of reconciliation and peace.»

Recall, earlier we reported that Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Pope Leo XIV signed a joint declaration in Istanbul reaffirming their commitment to the path to restoring full communion between the Roman Catholic and Constantinople Churches. The document also calls for an end to wars and the unification of the date of Easter.