As Lebanon continues to struggle under the weight of successive socio-economic and political crises over the last decades, the population is preparing to welcome Pope Leo XIV from November 30 to December 2. The visit is expected to bring renewed hope to the long-suffering population and will place Lebanon in the international spotlight. In an interview with Vatican News,  the Maronite Archbishop of Beirut, Paul Abdel Sater,  highlights how, since the first days of his pontificate, Pope Leo has expressed his closeness to Lebanon, and he expresses his belief that the Pope's very presence in the country will already be enough to encourage and uplift the population amidst the hardship they have experienced.

Following is tthe full text of the interview:

What is the main message you hope Pope Leo XIV will convey to the faithful in Lebanon during his visit?

I believe that His Holiness already sent the message. It's a message of hope, of peace, and of love. Since his first few days in office, he spoke about Lebanon, about our difficulties. He showed from the beginning how much he cares for our country and for the mission of the Lebanese Christians in the area. It will certainly be a powerful message of love to all those who will be present and to those who can't be present. It will also give us more hope to continue our mission in this area, to continue to be witnesses of love to every person. I personally believe that his visit will have a great impact on each one of us.

How can this visit contribute to strengthening hope among the Lebanese people in light of the current economic and social circumstances?

I don't think it's a medication that we will take, and it will change our hearts. Hope is something that we live every day, and it is based on the love of God and of Christ for us, and the love of His Holiness for each one of us. When you think that you are not alone in this world, that your difficulties are also the difficulties of others, that others are thinking and praying for you every day, and they're doing their best to alleviate your difficulties, you feel so loved. This love puts hope in your heart, certainly we’re not expecting that His Holiness will give us a solution for our problems. It is enough for us that he is present here, and I'm not talking in my own name. I'm speaking about all the faithful that I meet, and what we’ve been talking about concerning His Holiness’ visit. We are enjoying the fact that he is coming to visit Lebanon, to be with us, to pray with us. For us, it is more than enough.

We will continue with a lot of strength because we know, we are sure, that we are not alone. We are supported by all the Catholics in the world, by all the people who believe in Lebanon, in the Lebanese people, and in its mission.

To what extent do you believe the Pope's visit can bring international attention back to Lebanon and its struggles?

It will draw the attention of the international community, inasmuch as the leaders of the international community wish to. With the news and the media today, you can make a small event seem bigger, or you can make a big event seem small. So it depends on the world leaders and on the media, and it's the responsibility of everyone in the media to shed light on what's happening in Lebanon, and on the injustice that people in Lebanon are suffering. It’s the international community which is, in the first place, responsible for our situation.

What is your message to the faithful and to all the Lebanese people to prepare themselves to welcome the Pope in Lebanon?

I would say to all the Lebanese faithful: come and see the Pope, come and listen to his words, come and show him how much we appreciate his visit, how much we love him, how much we appreciate all he's doing for us. Then, after, go everywhere else and speak about the love of Jesus Christ and the hope that you have in your heart because of the presence of Jesus Christ.