Pope Leo XIV held a telephone call last week with President of the European Council António Costa to discuss the situation in the Middle East, including the West Bank and the condition of Christians in southern Lebanon, while also reflecting on his recent 10-day Apostolic Journey to Africa, the Holy See Press Office said. The conversation comes amid heightened international concern over regional instability and the status of Christian communities in conflict-affected areas.
According to the Vatican statement, the exchange was described as “cordial” and focused in particular on developments in the West Bank and on southern Lebanon, where the presence of historic Christian communities continues to be affected by political and security pressures linked to cross-border conflict involving Israel and armed groups such as Hezbollah.
