ASIA/LEBANON - Pope's Visit, Father Guillaume Bruté de Rémur: May Christians be the leaven of coexistence

by Gianluca Frinchillucci

Beirut (Agenzia Fides) – In Lebanon, a country marked by a devastating economic crisis, political instability, and the ongoing wounds of war, the visit of Pope Leo XIV has a missionary significance for the Christian community. This is emphasized by Father Guillaume Bruté de Rémur, a French priest who has worked in the Middle East for many years and is rector of the "Redemptoris Mater" International Eparchial Seminary in Lebanon, an institution that educates young people from various countries and Catholic Churches of different rites and is located in the heart of a predominantly Muslim neighborhood in Beirut.
In a context where many young people and families are considering emigration, the seminary sees the Pope's visit as a powerful call to mission and witness. Father Guillaume sees in the signs accompanying this trip—beginning with the choice of the theme “Blessed are the peacemakers”—an invitation to rediscover the role of Christians as the leaven of coexistence in Lebanon’s multi-religious society.

Father Guillaume, what significance do you attribute to Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the Land of the Cedars, given the economic crisis, political instability, and the still-open wounds of war?

“I believe this is a very important visit. Some see it as the fulfillment of Pope Francis’s wish, who had repeatedly stated that he would come to Lebanon; and that opportunity never arose again.
I think that even before the election of Pope Leo, the Vatican was paying particular attention to the situation in Lebanon. But I believe that the Pope's decision to begin his apostolic journeys with a trip to Turkey, linked to the Council of Nicaea, and a trip to Lebanon, which is more pastoral and, above all, missionary in nature, is very significant.

Pope Leo has chosen the theme "Blessed are the peacemakers" for these journeys. The situation in the Middle East, which is deeply destabilized and currently undergoing a period of reconstruction with an uncertain outcome, is very close to his heart. The geopolitical map is being redrawn. At the center of these changes, the Pope can remind Christians of their mission, which they have always had: to be a presence that fosters coexistence in a multi-denominational and multi-religious society. His presence here is of great importance because the diaspora and the loss of awareness of their mission among Christians have contributed to the destabilization of this region.”

What do you think the Pope's decision to make Lebanon one of the first stops of his pontificate signifies?

“This is very significant because Lebanon has always been a country that has welcomed persecuted religious communities, not just Christian ones. When the Mamluks persecuted the Shiites, many fled to the mountains; the same is true for the Druze.
Lebanon has always been a welcoming country. It is fundamental to present this country as a "message"—an expression coined by John Paul II, who said, "Lebanon is more than a country; it is a message." And I think that the Pope wants to emphasize precisely this aspect, which is so important for the Church.

How did the seminarians receive the news of the Pope's visit? What do they expect from this trip for their vocational journey and for the future of the Church in Lebanon?

“We are all—but especially the seminarians—very happy and honored by this first trip of the Pope's ministry. I found it very significant, and our priests also noticed, that the first audience Pope Leo held after his inauguration was dedicated to the Jubilee of the Eastern Churches. Some of our priests were in Rome and participated: this, too, seemed a sign of Providence.
This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of our seminary. It is an important anniversary, and the Pope is coming to Lebanon on November 30th, the very day the decree establishing the seminary was signed and the feast day of Saint Andrew, a saint of the East. This, too, has great symbolic value.
The seminarians are thrilled: they see the Pope's visit as a confirmation of their vocation and their presence here. Naturally, they are eagerly awaiting a word from the Holy Father. The Pope's first public appearance in Lebanon will be a meeting with seminarians, clergy, and religious women, and they are very happy to be there.

Will the Pope's visit help Christians who often consider emigration to stay in their homeland?

The possibility of remaining in one's homeland always exists: Life is a matter of choice. It is only natural that people strive for better living conditions, and today the temptation to emigrate is very strong, especially in a crisis-ridden country like Lebanon.

The Pope's words are very important because they remind Christians that being Christian is not just about belonging or professing a faith, but about being called to live one's life as a witness. In Greek, witness means martyrdom: we are not all called to martyrdom, but we are called to the mission.
The true development of our person is realized in fulfilling the mission for which we were created and called by God. Amidst the difficulties, I see young people and families saying, "We have a mission here," and that overcomes weaknesses and hardships.
This is one of the most important things the Pope can do: to affirm that the Church's mission is not just education or assistance, however fundamental these may be, but to instill an awareness of mission simply through its presence in the Middle East.”

Do people expect a message of comfort and conversion from the Pope, or a prophetic word that awakens consciences?

“I think that awakening consciences is of fundamental importance today: it is one of the great challenges of our time, and this is all the more true here in Lebanon.
War always paralyzes conscience: it allows things to happen that are normally unacceptable, and so one's personal conscience becomes accustomed to them. That is why I hope that the Pope will address a call to conversion to the country's elite. It is important to awaken consciences so that Lebanon remains what it has been and what it can still be: a place where coexistence is possible and where differences become a source of wealth.”

What specific commitment do you see for your seminary and the Church in Lebanon in the period following the Pope's visit?

“We are already preparing for the 'aftermath.' We are organizing a vocations meeting with bishops, young people, and famiglie, to call for priestly life, consecrated life, and evangelization, including within families. For us, mission is of fundamental importance.
Today, there is a great thirst in Lebanon for a more missionary Church. Following the Pope's visit, we must involve seminarians in pastoral care, build more personal relationships with people, and make our presence more meaningful.
We also hope to complete the seminary construction project, which has been delayed by wars and the economic crisis. Our presence on the border between the Christian and Muslim neighborhoods is an important sign. I believe this is truly of fundamental importance.
(Agenzia Fides, 29/11/2025)

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