November 30, 2025 | 12:38 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Hezbollah group in Lebanon on Saturday, November 29, 2025, urged Pope Leo XIV to refuse the injustice and aggression of Israel against Lebanon. The message was conveyed by Hezbollah as Pope Leo XIV arrived in Beirut last weekend.
Hezbollah appeared in a very weakened state after over a year of open war with Israel. The war began when the Iranian-backed group initiated cross-border attacks against Israel related to the Gaza war.
The ceasefire a year ago was supposed to end the war, but Israel continued to carry out routine attacks on Lebanon. Israel claimed that the attacks targeted Hezbollah operations and locations, and has maintained forces in five strategic locations in southern Lebanon.
Under heavy pressure from the US and concerns about the widening of Israeli attacks, the government has committed to disarm Hezbollah. However, this move was rejected by Hizbullah.
"We at Hezbollah take advantage of your blessed visit to our country, Lebanon, to reaffirm our commitment to coexistence," said the message from Hezbollah to Pope Leo XIV, as reported by the group's social media like in The New Arab.
However, it also reaffirmed Hezbollah's commitment to stand with the army and people of Lebanon to confront any aggression and occupation of their land and country. Hezbollah added that what Israel is doing in Lebanon is continuous aggression that is unacceptable.
"We rely on His Holiness's stance in rejecting the injustice and aggression experienced by our Lebanese people at the hands of Zionist colonizers and their supporters," according to a statement from Hezbollah.
In his speech on Friday, November 28, 2025, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem welcomed Pope Leo's visit to Lebanon. He said that members of the group had been assigned to deliver a letter to the Pope, which would also be published in the media.
Qassem emphasized that his group had adhered to the November 2024 ceasefire. He also called for an end to Israel's continuous attacks on the country. "Do you anticipate a war in the future? Maybe someday, yes, that possibility exists," said Qassem, referring to the increasing concerns in Lebanon about a new and broader war.
After visiting Turkey, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to arrive in Lebanon on Sunday for a three-day trip that includes an open-air mass on the Beirut waterfront. The mass is expected to attract 120,000 people, as well as interfaith meetings in the city center.
Qassem said on Friday that Hezbollah welcomed Pope Leo's visit. "We pray that the Holy Father will contribute to spreading peace in Lebanon, liberating it, ending the aggression (by Israel), and supporting Lebanon and the oppressed, as we have always known he does," he said.
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