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Pope Leo, in Crisis-Hit Lebanon, Urges Faith Leaders to Unite for Peace

01 December 2025, Lebanon, Beirut: Pope Leo XIV (C) poses for a picture with various Lebanese religious leaders during an interfaith and ecumenical meeting at the Martyrs' Square in Beirut, on the second day of his apostolic visit to Lebanon. (dpa)
01 December 2025, Lebanon, Beirut: Pope Leo XIV (C) poses for a picture with various Lebanese religious leaders during an interfaith and ecumenical meeting at the Martyrs' Square in Beirut, on the second day of his apostolic visit to Lebanon. (dpa)
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Pope Leo, in Crisis-Hit Lebanon, Urges Faith Leaders to Unite for Peace

01 December 2025, Lebanon, Beirut: Pope Leo XIV (C) poses for a picture with various Lebanese religious leaders during an interfaith and ecumenical meeting at the Martyrs' Square in Beirut, on the second day of his apostolic visit to Lebanon. (dpa)
01 December 2025, Lebanon, Beirut: Pope Leo XIV (C) poses for a picture with various Lebanese religious leaders during an interfaith and ecumenical meeting at the Martyrs' Square in Beirut, on the second day of his apostolic visit to Lebanon. (dpa)

Pope Leo gathered leaders of Lebanon's religious communities next to the old frontline of the country's sectarian civil war on Monday and urged peaceful coexistence in a region beset by bloodshed and tumult. 

"May every bell toll, every adhan, every call to prayer blend into a single, soaring hymn," he said, using the Arabic term for the Muslim call to prayer. 

Leo is near the end of his first overseas trip as pope, a visit to Türkiye and Lebanon, ancient biblical lands where he has championed the advancement of Christian and wider religious unity, and the cause of peace. 

HOPE AND PEACE 

On Tuesday, in the final appearances of his trip, he will pray at the site of a deadly 2020 port blast that shredded swathes of Beirut, then lead a Mass on the city's historic waterfront with an expected 100,000 people. 

Leo has described his trip to Lebanon, racked by years of conflict, political paralysis and economic misery, as a mission of peace, and in Türkiye he warned that humanity's future was at risk due to the world's ongoing bloody conflicts. 

The pope met faith leaders on Monday in the central Martyrs' Square, situated on the "green line" that divided Muslim west and Christian east Beirut during the 1975-90 civil war, and urged them to be "builders of peace". 

Lebanese representatives of the Alawite and Druze communities, which have suffered through bouts of sectarian violence in neighboring Syria this year, spoke at the event. 

Later on Monday about 15,000 young people gathered for an event with the 70-year-old pontiff outside the Maronite Catholic headquarters. 

"There is hope within you, a gift that we adults seem to have lost. ... You have more time to dream, to plan and to do good," he said. 

VISIT TO CATHOLIC SHRINE 

Leo also visited the tomb of St. Charbel, a Catholic saint revered across the region, before heading to Harissa, a Catholic shrine on a mountaintop overlooking the Mediterranean just north of Beirut. 

People at the shrine, known for its towering statue of the Virgin Mary looking out towards Beirut, ululated as the pope arrived, pressing in to greet him with shouts of "Viva il Papa" (Long live the pope). 

"We have really been waiting for the pope's visit because it is raising our hope now," said Rev. Toni Elias, a Maronite priest from Rmeich, a Christian town close to the Israeli border. The Maronites are an eastern-rite Catholic community and the largest Christian sect in Lebanon. 

"We believe that he brings with him the message of peace, which we really need." 

Before speaking at the shrine, Leo heard testimonies from people living in Lebanon. Loren Capobres, a Filipina migrant in the country for 17 years, told Leo about her experience living through war. 

The pope said stories like hers show the need to "take a stand to ensure that no one else will have to flee from his or her country due to senseless and cruel conflicts". 

CONFLICT 

Lebanon, which has the largest share of Christians in the Middle East, has been rocked by the spillover of the Gaza conflict, as Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah went to war, culminating in a devastating Israeli offensive. 

The country, which hosts 1 million Syrian and Palestinian refugees, is also struggling to emerge from a severe economic crisis following decades of profligate spending that sent the economy into a tailspin in late 2019. 

The deputy head of the Supreme Shiite Islamic Council, Sheikh Ali al-Khatib, thanked Leo for his visit during the interfaith meeting and said the country was riddled with wounds "as a result of Israel's continued attacks". 

Israel says its continued strikes since last year's ceasefire agreement are to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing military capabilities and posing a renewed threat to communities in northern Israel. 

Leo's schedule on Tuesday includes a prayer at the site of the 2020 chemical explosion at the Beirut port that killed 200 people, an outdoor Mass on the Beirut waterfront and a visit to one of Lebanon's few mental health facilities.  

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Arab World

Syria’s Interior Minister Warns Remnants of Former Regime

FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
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Syria’s Interior Minister Warns Remnants of Former Regime

FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo

Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab has warned the remnants of the former regime against efforts to lead chaos, killing, and destruction as his ministry announced the arrest of several people in Latakia and Tartus for involvement in war crimes and instigations that threaten civil peace.

Khattab stressed on Wednesday that the state is the sole guarantor for all citizens, ensuring their security, preserving their dignity, and safeguarding their rights.

The minister said in a statement on X that since the early days following Syria’s liberation, the ministry has positioned itself as a central force in restoring order and safety across the country.

This effort has been carried out in coordination with other government agencies and local communities to confront a wide range of security challenges.

Khattab stressed that the ministry’s new approach to policing prioritizes public safety over intimidation. “Our goal is to protect citizens, not to frighten them,” he said, adding that a formal code of conduct has been introduced to ensure law enforcement operates within clear legal and ethical boundaries.

Despite these reforms, remnants of the deposed regime who have aligned themselves with wanted criminals have misinterpreted the ministry’s ethical approach as weakness. “We will protect the oppressed and hold accountable anyone who threatens our country’s security,” he said.

The minister warned the remnants of the defunct regime and their criminal gangs, who insist on continuing the path of chaos, killing, and destruction to “await their inevitable fate.”

“Let this message serve as a final warning to them to cease their actions,” he added.

Meanwhile, the ministry said on its Telegram channel that several people were arrested in operations in Latakia and Tartus after external calls by instigators have led to sectarian chaos and left many people dead and injured.

“The operation came in response to external inciting calls of a sectarian nature, which led to a state of chaos, the death of a number of people, the injury of others, and assaults on public and private property,” it said, noting that “operations are ongoing against these corrupt individuals.”

The ministry said in its statement that it has played an active role in restoring the social fabric and strengthening civil peace. However, “some parties have sought to exploit this stage to spread chaos, undermine security, and threaten stability.”

Arab World

This Is Our Story, Mohammed

The late Mohammed al-Shafei in his office. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The late Mohammed al-Shafei in his office. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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This Is Our Story, Mohammed

The late Mohammed al-Shafei in his office. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The late Mohammed al-Shafei in his office. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

This is our story, Mohammed. We fell in the trap early. We were lured by the beautiful, but deceitful, ink. We chose a thorny profession. We chose a long tunnel. No breaks and no truces. It is the hot pursuit of the news that takes up most of our lives. The reader is insatiable. The journalist pursues stories for so long, until they become the story. A story in their own newspaper. A story about a death. A story about farewell.

We were preparing to say farewell to the year, not say farewell to you. You took part in our meeting on Tuesday. You always made it to our daily meetings. You always brought your experience with you, your kind way of speaking. It was as if you were trying to tell us a message. The old warrior never retires. He would rather fall in the ring. Hours after the meeting, we received the painful news. Your heart betrayed you, as it is likely to do.

The nature of our profession had it so this calm man would occupy himself with thorny files and tough men. Afghanistan took up his interests. He used to travel there when it was teeming with al-Mujahideen. He would return from those arduous journeys with news, investigations and interviews. Even as old age took its toll, Mohammed al-Shafei never abandoned his passion. News intrigued him.

He joined Asharq Al-Awsat nearly four decades ago. He loved the Asharq Al-Awsat family and it loved him back. As in all love stories, he never hesitated, never backed down and was never withholding. I say Asharq Al-Awsat family, while it is a garden of news and headlines, investigations and articles. The family is composed of various nationalities and experiences. They are united under one roof and one passion. He was proud of being part of a trusted newspaper that has preserved its spirit over the years.

How difficult it is to face death. For it to take away a dear son and a valued teacher. How difficult the loss will be. We were used to arguing with you, asking you questions and learning from you. How difficult it will be to pass by your empty office. How difficult it will be to not see you at our meetings.

This is our story, Mohammed. We live between the lines and die between the lines. We will finally rest in the archives of the newspaper. The warmth of our colleagues. Asharq Al-Awsat, with its diversity and generations, embraces everyone who was a part of the family and enriched the experience of its readers. Your heart betrayed you, as it is likely to do, but friendships know no betrayals.

Arab World

Asharq Al-Awsat's Mohammed al-Shafei Passes Away Leaving Behind Long Career in Pursuing the Toughest Files

Mohammed al-Shafei on board a military jet on his way to Afghanistan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Mohammed al-Shafei on board a military jet on his way to Afghanistan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Asharq Al-Awsat's Mohammed al-Shafei Passes Away Leaving Behind Long Career in Pursuing the Toughest Files

Mohammed al-Shafei on board a military jet on his way to Afghanistan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Mohammed al-Shafei on board a military jet on his way to Afghanistan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Mohammed al-Shafei, one of Asharq Al-Awsat's most prominent journalists, passed away at 74 on Wednesday, leaving behind a career that spanned over 40 years during which he tackled the thorniest and most complex files.

Al-Shafei specialized in extremist groups and was among the first journalists to have written about these issues in Arab press. He pursued his stories with strict professionalism, seeking out sources. He joined Asharq Al-Awsat in 1982, kicking off a long, dedicated career, marked by accuracy, commitment and high professionalism.

Al-Shafei was born in Egypt in 1951. He earned a Bachelor of Islamic Archeology from the University of Cairo in 1974. He traveled to London in 1977 and earned a Postgraduate Diploma in translation from the University of Westminster. He pursued further studies in journalistic translation at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in the mid-1980s, forging his unique skills in handling foreign sources, complex documents and sensitive security and political texts.

Mohammed al-Shafei at his Asharq Al-Awsat office in, as photographed by his colleague Adil al-Salmi.

He kicked off his journalism career in London in the 1980s. He worked at several Arabic newspapers published abroad, including “Al-Muslimoon” newspaper that was published by the Saudi Research & Publishing Company (SRMG) and the London-based “Al-Arab” newspaper. He returned to SRMG by working for the “Al-Zahira” newspaper that was established after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The years he will spend at the newspaper will shape his deep knowledge of regional conflicts and their complexities.

He joined Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper in 1991, starting off in the sports section, where he worked for 15 years, during which he showed high professionalism and a remarkable ability to follow up and analyze news before moving on to the next step in his career by handling the terrorism file. He became a pioneer in Arab journalism, relying on accurate documentation and deep analyses while steering clear of sensationalism in tackling the most sensitive issues.

Mohammed al-Shafei with former British Ambassador to Afghanistan Mark Sedwill. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

His accomplishments include holding direct interviews with senior al-Qaeda leaders, including Mullah Omar. He traveled to Afghanistan where he interviewed Taliban leaders during times of heightened tensions. The rare insights offered by his interviews became a main reference for researchers and journalists interested in jihadists groups.

During the war on al-Qaeda, al-Shafei made several field visits to American bases in Afghanistan, joined international forces in conflict zones and carried out investigative reports from the battlefield, offering a glimpse of developments on the ground, the nature of the operations and the complexities of the scene, which was rare in Arab journalism at the time.

Mohammed al-Shafei interviews former Afghan Vice President Abdul Karim Khalili. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Al-Shafei also carried out several interviews of Osama bin Laden’s son, presenting a humanitarian angle of the news and underscoring his professional ability to reach what were perceived as inaccessible sources, all without losing his professionalism and objectivity.

He was among the few Arab journalists who carried out interviews from Guantanamo prison where al-Qaeda members were being detained. The interviews offered yet another rare insight into terrorism issues and how these groups operate.

Al-Shafei helped in writing the book, “Al-Qaeda’s Men in Iran... A Safe Haven and Suspicious Alliance”, which was a result of years of research. It is seen as one of the first Arab publications about Iran’s ties to al-Qaeda, revealing that they had existed for years and were based on mutual interests.

Mohammed al-Shafei with an American soldier in Afghanistan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Al-Shafei married a Turkish woman in London in the late 1970s. They have a son and daughter. His son, Mahmoud, followed in his father’s footsteps, pursuing a career in journalism. He worked for Asharq Al-Awsat for three years.

Hours before his passing, al-Shafei remained dedicated to his profession. He wrote several articles that he sent to Asharq Al-Awsat and was in touch with his colleague by telephone to follow up on his work as was his habit throughout his career. With his passing, Arab journalism loses a calm and hardworking journalist, who was known by his colleagues for his discipline and humility.