Pope Leo meets Lebanese president; Vatican concerned over border deal implementation

(OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun as the Vatican expressed concerns over stalled efforts to implement a U.S.-backed border agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

After his meeting with the pope Aug. 20, Aoun met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Vatican foreign minister, to discuss “the Trilateral Framework Agreement, signed by the United States, Israel, and Lebanon, and aimed at stabilizing the southern borders of the Republic of Lebanon and achieving a just and lasting peace,” the Vatican said in a statement.

“While expressing satisfaction with the signing of the document, the Holy See voiced serious concerns over the difficulties being experienced in its implementation and assured its support for efforts directed toward this end,” the statement read.

The 14-point agreement, brokered by the United States June 26, outlines a phased roadmap to end hostilities in southern Lebanon by disarming the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group and ensuring the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

The conflict began March 2 after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in response to the U.S-Israeli attack on Iran.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes have continued in southern Lebanon which it says is in response to attacks by Hezbollah, who rejected the agreement’s call for the group’s disarmament.

According to an Aug. 19 report released by Lebanon’s health ministry, more than 4,300 people have been killed and more than 12,300 have been wounded since the start of the conflict.

In a separate statement published Aug. 20, the Lebanese president’s office said that during his 30-minute meeting with Pope Leo, Aoun expressed his gratitude to the pope “for all the efforts he exerts to support Lebanon in achieving its demands to end the Israeli occupation and attacks on its territory.”

Aoun also urged the pope’s continued support in compelling Israel “to implement the provisions of the framework agreement.”

In his meeting with Cardinal Parolin and Archbishop Gallagher, Aoun delivered an update on Lebanon and Israel’s “repeated attacks on Lebanese villages, infrastructure, and civilians,” the statement read.

“During both meetings, President Aoun conveyed Lebanon’s appreciation to the Vatican for all the efforts it has made to support the country since the Supreme Pontiff’s last visit to Lebanon,” it read.

“President Aoun also called on the Holy Father and the Holy See to support Lebanon in achieving a complete Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories, paving the way for rebuilding what Israel destroyed and returning displaced persons to their lands and villages,” the president’s office said.

He also stressed that “these steps must coincide with extending the Lebanese state’s authority over its entire territory and confining the decision of war and peace solely to its hands, as the only path to achieving security and stability along the borders.”

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