Archbishop Paolo Borgia urges dialogue and peace amid deadly Israeli air strikes, saying Lebanon deserves calm, not destruction.
Newsroom (09/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) In an impassioned call for peace amid one of Lebanon’s deadliest nights in recent memory, Archbishop Paolo Borgia, Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, lamented the devastation unleashed by the latest Israeli air strikes, urging dialogue and diplomacy as the only path forward. Speaking to Vatican News on April 8, Archbishop Borgia described the scale of the attacks as unprecedented, with “ten almost simultaneous strikes” within minutes and up to “fifty warplanes” reported, leaving Beirut and surrounding regions in turmoil.
“The number of deaths will need to be updated because many may still be under the rubble,” the Archbishop said. As of Wednesday, at least 182 people were reported dead and hundreds more injured, following widespread bombardment across the country. Although a two-week truce was recently negotiated between the United States, Israel, and Iran, Israel has said the ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon, where its conflict with Hezbollah continues unabated.
For over ten hours that day, Archbishop Borgia and Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Raï traveled across Lebanon’s southeastern areas, bringing aid to families of all faiths. Despite hours spent under mortar fire, the Nuncio insisted he felt no spiritual fatigue. “One must keep hope alive,” he said, “otherwise, how can we sustain the hope of others?”
Beirut in Turmoil
Amid incessant shelling between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Beirut has descended into chaos. “The city is congested, sirens and ambulances everywhere—Beirut is in turmoil,” Borgia noted. Israeli sources anticipate the operation will continue for another two days, a grim forecast for a population already on edge.
The Nuncio recognized the complex web of regional alliances and conflicts. While Israel’s truce with Iran remains separate from its struggle with Hezbollah, the Archbishop stressed that “it is strongly desirable that there be a ceasefire here and the start of negotiations to stabilize Lebanon in relation to Israel.”
He emphasized that war—no matter its justification—only perpetuates division and destruction. “Perhaps everyone should understand that this is not the right path,” he reflected, echoing Pope Leo XIV’s call from March for “avenues for dialogue” that strengthen Lebanon’s authorities in seeking “lasting solutions for the common good.”
A Nation Under Strain
Lebanon’s southern communities, repeatedly targeted and abandoned, are facing acute humanitarian and economic collapse. “There is much suffering in Beirut and in the southern villages,” said Borgia. Many Shiite families are displaced, while Christians have fled north. “Those who remain have a strong attachment to their land, but they face anxiety and isolation—they can’t go anywhere. They feel they carry a burden alone.”
The Church’s presence in these areas, he added, serves not only as aid but as reassurance. “They must feel the presence of the universal and Lebanese Church, especially the presence of the Holy Father and all those of goodwill.”
Faith Amid Despair
Borgia pointed to the Pope’s Easter message to the Christians of Debel, urging them to look toward the Resurrection as a beacon of hope. “The Lebanese are deeply religious,” he said, “and thus, Easter is not only a feast—it is an act of defiance against despair.”
“The Holy Father’s message resonates beyond Christians,” he added. “Non-Christians too appreciate his words about peace. They understand his concern for war-torn contexts.”
An Appeal to All Sides
The Archbishop endorsed the Pope’s broader appeal for peace—including his recent statement urging Americans to pressure officials to reject war—as an invitation “for Hezbollah and Israel alike” to seek resolution. “Lebanon desires and deserves peace,” he said firmly. “War is only death.”
With a global Prayer Vigil for Peace scheduled at St. Peter’s on April 11, Archbishop Borgia voiced his own prayer: “That peace may be achieved, and that people may live calmly and serenely. Lebanon is a country of diversity—its beauty lies in harmony. Peace does not mean defeat; it is just and divine, opening the way to reconciliation and life.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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