Pope Leo XIV offers prayers and sorrow for victims of Middle East bombings, honoring the slain Maronite priest Fr. Pierre El-Rahi.
Newsroom (10/03/2026 Gaudium Press ) In a message filled with sorrow and urgency, Pope Leo XIV has extended his heartfelt prayers for the victims of recent bombings across the Middle East, lamenting the loss of countless innocent lives — especially children and those who cared for them. Among the dead is Father Pierre El-Rahi, a Maronite priest killed while assisting parishioners in southern Lebanon.
The Holy See Press Office released a statement on Monday confirming the Pontiff’s deep concern over the escalating violence. “Pope Leo XIV expresses profound sorrow for all the victims of the bombings in these days in the Middle East, for the many innocents, including many children, and for those who were helping them, such as Father Pierre El-Rahi, the Maronite priest killed this afternoon in Qlayaa,” it read. “He is following what is happening with concern and prays that every hostility may cease as soon as possible.”
Tragic Death Amid Service
Fr. El-Rahi, aged 50, was killed on Monday in Qlayaa, a mountainous area of southern Lebanon, reportedly after an Israeli tank fired upon a house in his parish. Lebanese media said that when the first shell struck the home, Fr. El-Rahi rushed to help the residents along with several young parishioners. Moments later, another strike hit, fatally wounding him. He was taken to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries soon after.
Speaking with Vatican News, Fr. Toufic Bou Merhi, the Latin-rite parish priest serving in Tyre and Deirmimas, described his fallen colleague as “a true pastor for the Christians of his parish.” Despite Israeli evacuation orders in the region, Fr. El-Rahi had refused to leave, choosing instead to remain with his people.
“Up to now, people haven’t wanted to leave their homes in Christian villages, but in this situation, everything has changed,” said Fr. Merhi. “Leaving home means living on the streets or trying to rent another place, but people can’t afford it, especially given the country’s already dire economic situation.”
A Community in Mourning
Fr. Merhi said the parishioners are now mourning their priest’s death and living in deep fear as hostilities inch closer to their villages. He noted that even the home of another priest came under direct attack.
Meanwhile, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land in Tyre is hosting some 200 displaced people — all Muslims — providing them with shelter and relief. Across southern Lebanon, more than 300,000 people have already fled in search of safety, according to local reports.
Pope’s Prayer for a Fragile Hope
The Pope’s appeal for peace resonates against the backdrop of this human suffering. Echoing the sentiments of those on the ground, Fr. Merhi said, “We say and repeat that the last thing that must not die in us is hope in the Lord, who always gives us the strength to continue. Enough war; enough violence. Weapons, as the Pope said, do not generate peace; they generate massacres and hatred. All we ask is to live with a little dignity.”
In his message, Pope Leo urged renewed efforts to end hostilities, calling upon the international community to protect civilians and uphold human dignity. His words serve not only as a prayer for peace but as a sobering reminder that behind each statistic lies a shattered life, a grieving family, and a community in desperate need of hope.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
Related Images:
