LEILA FADEL, HOST:
Pope Leo XIV is in Lebanon, part of the first papal trip for the first American pope. He's meeting with politicians and leaders of the country's many religions as Lebanon continues to be targeted by Israeli airstrikes. NPR's Ruth Sherlock is following Pope Leo and has this report.
RUTH SHERLOCK, BYLINE: As the papal plane descends towards Beirut, Lebanese military fighter jets appear alongside us, protecting the plane until we land. On the ground, Pope Leo receives the warmest of receptions.
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SHERLOCK: He was welcomed by Lebanon's president, prime minister and parliamentary speaker, and religious figures, and children offered flowers, bread and water. All the way from the airport into Beirut, crowds gathered in the rain to cheer for the Pope. Leo moved in a closed popemobile, waving to the crowds through the glass. 30% of Lebanese are Christian, the highest proportion of any country in the Middle East.
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SHERLOCK: A dance troupe performed dabke, a traditional Arab folk dance, and there were cannons, a light show and cavalry. Lebanon has suffered in recent years from the conflict with Israel, economic collapse and the explosion of mishandled chemicals at Beirut Port in 2020 that devastated the Capital. To this day, no senior Lebanese official has been convicted, and many in Lebanon's political establishment have been accused of vast corruption.
POPE LEO XIV: A culture of reconciliation, therefore, does that arise only from below?
SHERLOCK: Standing beside Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, Pope Leo seemed to challenge Lebanon's leaders to set aside their own self-interest.
LEO XIV: The common good is more than the sum of many interests, for it draws together everyone's goals as closely as possible, directing them in such a way that everyone will have more than if they were to move forward by themselves.
SHERLOCK: Leo also encouraged Lebanon's Christians to remain in the country and for those who've left to return. This message was met with some frustration by Christians in Lebanon's South, whose towns close to the border with Israel were decimated in the conflict between Israel and Lebanese militias last year.
CHADI SAYAH: We want to stay, but we need a push. We need the help.
SHERLOCK: Chadi Sayah, the mayor of the Christian village of Alma al-Shaab, which still doesn't have running water or electricity, has written to Pope Leo asking for protection and help to rebuild. The Vatican so far hasn't responded to him or to NPR's request for comment. Sayah says Christians in South Lebanon feel forgotten.
Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Beirut.
(SOUNDBITE OF PENGUIN CAFE'S "SOLARIS (CORNELIUS MIX)") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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