Lebanon

The Latest

At Beirut 2024, patriarchs, bishops, and priests gathered for an ecumenical musical event the weekend of Jan. 20-21, 2024.

Ecumenical musical event in Beirut kicks off Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Jan 22, 2024

By ACI MENA

In the heart of Lebanon’s capital, Christian leaders gathered with a 400-person ecumenical choir to lift their voices in prayer. Read more

Pope Francis blesses a mosaic of St. Charbel after his general audience Nov. 15, 2023, in St. Peter’s Square.

St. Charbel mosaic blessed by Pope Francis installed in Vatican grottoes

Jan 19, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

The mosaic was installed in the grottoes located beneath St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Read more

A man checks a destroyed building on Jan. 8, 2024, after an Israeli air raid in the village of Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon, amid ongoing cross-border tensions as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza.

Lebanese bishops call for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war 

Jan 10, 2024

By Joe Bukuras

The bishops also denounced a group aligned with the country’s Islamist militant terror organization Hezbollah for calling for an investigation... Read more

A man walks through the rubble of destroyed buildings following strikes on the the town of Naqura in southern Lebanon close to the border with northern Israel on Jan. 4, 2024. Four Hezbollah fighters were killed overnight in southern Lebanon, the Iran-backed movement announced on Jan. 4, in what Lebanese state media said were Israeli strikes on the border town of Naqura.

Hezbollah-aligned group accuses Lebanese Catholic bishops of treason

Jan 4, 2024

By Joe Bukuras

The two bishops were said to have attended a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog that is held annually by... Read more

Olive harvest season in the southern border town of Rmeish, Lebanon, in the midst of a crisis situation.

Almost all Christians have fled southern Lebanon amid Israel-Hezbollah bombing

Dec 21, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shia militant group in Lebanon, began attacking Israel at the Israeli-Lebanese border following the beginning of the... Read more

The southern border town of Qalaia, Lebanon.

Analysis: South Lebanon is a ‘volcano in motion,’ and Christian villages do not sleep

Oct 26, 2023

By Elias Kattar

For more than two weeks, the Lebanese Christian villages along the border with the Holy Land have experienced a state... Read more

Image from the Shrine of St. Charbel.

The Lebanese saint who unites Christians and Muslims

Jul 24, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

St. Charbel Makhlouf is known in Lebanon for the miraculous healings of those who visit his tomb to seek his... Read more

Bassel Habkouk is reunited with his two children after being trapped for 52 hours after the devastating Feb. 6, 2023, earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

Survivor of Turkey earthquake: ‘God protected me and the Virgin Mary did not leave me’

Mar 1, 2023

By Guitta Maroun

Only a few hours after Bassel Habkouk arrived for a visit in Turkey on Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck... Read more

Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles is the chairman-elect for the U.S. bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace.

U.S. bishops make ‘the suffering of Lebanon’ priority with election of Maronite to key post

Nov 20, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles said his homeland is in... Read more

The Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harrissa.

How the economic crisis is transforming the Christian population in Lebanon

Oct 23, 2022

By Elias Turk

Christians, like all Lebanese, today face rising unemployment, bank withdrawal limits, the suspension of international payments, electricity, water, and internet... Read more

Marina Khawand started Medonations in response to the economic crisis that is crippling the Lebanese economy.

When there’s a problem, ‘we just pray’: Lebanese teen started charity to get medical care to poor

Oct 15, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Marina Khawand, a 19-year-old woman from Beirut, says she never would have been able to help the thousands of ill... Read more

Pope Francis speaks during his general audience in Paul VI Hall on Aug. 3, 2022.

Pope Francis calls for 'justice and truth' ahead of Beirut blast anniversary

Aug 3, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Lebanon will mark the anniversary of the Beirut port explosion with a National Day of Mourning. Read more

The beatification of Father Leonard Melki and Father Thomas Saleh in Jal el Dib, Lebanon, on June 4, 2022.

Catholic priests martyred under Ottoman Empire beatified in Lebanon

Jun 6, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Father Leonard Melki and Father Thomas Saleh were martyred in 1915 and 1917 respectively. Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in the Apostolic Palace on May 7, 2022.

Pope Francis’ Lebanon trip ‘delayed for health reasons’

May 9, 2022

By CNA Staff

Lebanon’s tourism minister announced the postponement, citing ‘health reasons.’ Read more

Pope Francis with the flag of Lebanon at a general audience at the Vatican, Sept. 2, 2020.

Pope Francis to visit Lebanon in June, says President Aoun

Apr 5, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun announced the papal trip on Twitter. Read more

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican, March 21, 2022.

Pope Francis meets Lebanon’s president at the Vatican

Mar 21, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope reportedly said he wanted to visit the Middle Eastern country soon. Read more

Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, Lebanon.

American, European bishops urge support for Lebanon

Mar 1, 2022

By Christine Rousselle

A group of American and European bishops released a statement on Tuesday, March 1 calling for increased protections for the... Read more

Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, head of the Maronite Church. Credit: Aid to the Church in Need.

Cardinal: Lebanon’s political crisis poses challenge for papal trip

Mar 1, 2022

By Courtney Mares

‘We need stability,’ said Cardinal Rai. Read more

St. George Maronite cathedral beside the Mohammad Al-Amin mosque in Beirut, the Lebanese capital.

Vatican foreign minister visits Lebanon, still suffering from financial and political crises

Feb 5, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The five-day visit marked 75 years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Lebanon. Read more

Majed, a Syrian refugee living in Zahlé, Lebanon.

Here’s what a young Syrian refugee is hoping for this Christmas

Dec 14, 2021

By CNA Staff

‘I have become a refugee, just like the Child Jesus,’ says Majed. Read more