Patriarch of Antioch and Pope plant a “tree of peace” in Beirut

Patriarch John and Pope Leo. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr

On December 1, 2025, Patriarch John of Antioch, Pope Leo of Rome, and representatives of Islam met in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, on Martyrs’ Square – a symbolic site in the history of the region.

Patriarch John X of Antioch welcomed the pope to the land where Christians first received that name, and briefly recalled the centuries-long witness borne by the Orthodox Church in the Middle East despite wars, persecutions, and the mass exodus of the population.

Earlier, Patriarch John had been invited to Nicea in Bithynia for the joint visit of Pope Leo and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council. However, the Primate of the Antiochian Church did not travel to Turkey.

The meeting between Patriarch John and Pope Leo was interreligious in nature and aimed at sending a shared message of peace from the religious communities of the Middle East – especially at a time when conflicts in the region continue to multiply and threats to local populations remain severe.

At the conclusion of the gathering, Pope Leo XIV, Patriarch John X of Antioch, and one of the Islamic religious leaders planted an olive tree – a traditional symbol of peace and reconciliation.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Patriarch of Antioch and the President of Syria discussed the situation of Christians in the region.

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