Call from Pope Francis for Lebanon: 'The international community must act'

The spiritual leader of Catholics and Head of Vatican State Pope Francis has called on the international community to take urgent action against the rising tensions in Lebanon. Speaking at his traditional Wednesday general audience in the Vatican's famous St. Peter's Square, the Pope drew attention to the destruction caused by Israel's airstrikes on Lebanon in particular.

Stating that there has been a significant loss of life as a result of the bombardments targeting the south of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, which began on the morning of September 23, the Pope said, "I am saddened by the news coming from Lebanon, where intense bombardment has caused many deaths and destruction in recent days. I hope the international community will do everything possible to stop this terrible escalation. This is unacceptable."

Emphasizing that Lebanon has been suffering even more deeply following the 2020 Beirut Port explosion, in addition to years of political and economic crises, the Pope said, "I express my closeness to the Lebanese people, who have suffered so much in the recent past."

The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that more than 550 people have lost their lives and hundreds have been injured following the airstrikes carried out by Israel. Furthermore, it was reported that humanitarian aid supplies sent by Turkey to Lebanon have reached the region. These developments have further increased calls for support for Lebanon within the international community.

While the Pope's speech brought the situation in Lebanon to the world's agenda, human rights defenders and non-governmental organizations also emphasized that urgent steps must be taken to stop the conflicts in the region.