Pope Leo XIV reiterated again his sorrow at the death of a Maronite Catholic priest in the ongoing war in Lebanon.
Father Pierre el-Rahi, from the village of Qlayaa in the Diocese of Tyre in southern Lebanon, was killed in an Israeli bombing on Monday, March 9.
Pope Leo spoke of his life and testimony at the end of the general audience in Rome on March 11.
The Holy Father said:
Today in Qlayaa, Lebanon, the funeral of Father Pierre El Raii, Maronite parish priest of one of the Christian villages in southern Lebanon, is being celebrated. These villages are once again experiencing the tragedy of war. I am close to all the Lebanese people at this time of grave trial.
In Arabic, “El Raii” means “the shepherd.” Father Pierre was a true shepherd, who always stayed beside his people, with the love and sacrifice of Jesus the Good Shepherd. As soon as he heard that some parishioners had been wounded in a bombing, he rushed to help them without hesitation. May the Lord grant that the blood he shed be a seed of peace for beloved Lebanon.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us continue to pray for peace in Iran and throughout the Middle East, especially for the many civilian victims, including many innocent children. May our prayer be a comfort to those who suffer and a seed of hope for the future.
In Lebanon, some 700,000 people have had to evacuate their homes. Some 500 people have been killed during these days of intense Israeli bombardment.
Lebanon is about 40% Christian.
