Pope Leo XIV made a surprise video call from Rome to 13 priests in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, offering comfort and prayers for peace along the tense border with Israel. The priests, from villages like Rmeich and Ain Ebel, were participating in an online meeting with the Vatican’s ambassador to Lebanon, Archbishop Paolo Borgia, when the Pope joined and spoke to them in French for approximately one minute. Father Najib al-Amil reported that the Pope urged them to pray for peace and encouraged them to remain in their hometowns. This call comes amid ongoing tensions in southern Lebanon, with recent incidents including the demolition of a Catholic convent in Yaroun and controversy over an Israeli soldier damaging a statue of Jesus.