Pope gets rockstar welcome at Lebanon

Bkerké (AFP) — Pope Leo XIV got a rockstar welcome from thousands of Lebanese youth on Monday, bringing them a message of hope on the second day of his visit to the crisis-hit country.

Locals have joyfully welcomed the American pontiff, turning out in their thousands to his public appearances and lining streets where his motorcade has passed, waving Vatican flags, ululating and throwing rice in celebration despite intermittent rain.

But at Monday evening’s youth event in Bkerke, north of Beirut, the jubilation hit a fever pitch as the pope was met with cheers, whistling and thunderous applause as attendees jostled to shoot photos and videos with their mobile phones.

Leo urged the crowd — said by organizers to number around 15,000 — to “build a better world than the one you inherited,” after hearing testimonies from several young people who spoke of the grave difficulties they and their country are facing.

“You have the enthusiasm to change the course of history,” the pontiff said.

“Young people of Lebanon, grow strong like the cedars and make the world blossom with hope!” he continued.

“Be the source of hope that the country is waiting for!”

Many Lebanese, particularly young people, left the country after the 2019 onset of a crushing economic crisis, widely blamed on official corruption and mismanagement, or following the devastating explosion at Beirut’s port the following year.

Fears have also grown recently of renewed war between Israel and Hezbollah despite a ceasefire in November 2024 that sought to end more than a year of hostilities between the foes.

Stephanie Nasr, 25, said she was “very moved” by the pope’s message.

“Of course it’s a message of peace, but it’s also recognition of all the resilience that we’ve shown, and the solidarity that Lebanon and young people have displayed in recent years,” she told AFP.