Pope Leo mourns victims in Middle East, prays for peace

Pope Leo XIV expresses his profound sorrow for the victims of bombings in the Middle East, especially children and Fr. Pierre El-Rahi, a Maronite priest killed in Lebanon.

Vatican News

The Holy See Press Office released a statement on Monday reporting that Pope Leo XIV is praying for the cessation of hostilities in the Middle East.

The Pope expressed his sorrow for the many innocent people who have died, including children and those who care for them, especially Fr. Pierre El-Rahi.

“Pope Leo XIV expresses profound sorrow for all the victims of the bombings in these days in the Middle East, for the many innocents, including many children, and for those who were helping them, such as Father Pierre El-Rahi, the Maronite priest killed this afternoon in Qlayaa,” read the statement. “He is following what is happening with concern and prays that every hostility may cease as soon as possible.”

The Maronite rite Catholic priest was killed in Qlayaa, Lebanon, on Monday as he sought to assist parishioners whose house had been fired upon by an Israeli tank, according to Lebanese media reports.

Fr. El-Rahi rushed to the house in the mountainous area of his parish with several young people when the tank struck the house again, wounding Fr. El-Rahi.

He was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his wounds.

Speaking to Vatican News, Fr. Toufic Bou Merhi, Latin-rite parish priest in Tyre and Deirmimas, said the 50-year-old Fr. El-Rahi was a true pastor for the Christians of his parish.

Despite many Israeli evacuation orders for the area, Fr. El-Rahi remained to serve his parishioners.

Fr. Merhi said the parish is mourning the death of Fr. El-Rahi and are now very afraid, even as the house of another priest was directly attacked.

“Up to now, people haven't wanted to leave their homes in Christian villages, but in this situation, everything has changed,” said Fr. Merhi. “Leaving home means living on the streets or trying to rent another place, but people can't afford it, especially given the country's already dire economic situation."

The Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land are currently hosting 200 displaced people, all Muslims, at their monastery in Tyre, according to Fr. Merhi, noting that over 300,000 people have left southern Lebanon in search of safety.

“We say and repeat that the last thing that must not die in us is hope in the Lord, who always gives us the strength to continue,” said Fr. Merhi. “Enough war; enough violence. Weapons, as the Pope said, do not generate peace; they generate massacres and hatred. All we ask is to live with a little dignity.”