Pope Leo XIV said the Middle East needed “new approaches” and that the “horror of war” had been a path too well trodden, in a Mass in Beirut on the final day of his visit.
Much of Lebanon’s capital was shut down on Tuesday as Pope Leo led a morning Mass for tens of thousands of worshippers – including President Joseph Aoun – on the Beirut waterfront. He also prayed at the site of the 2020 port blast that rocked Lebanon's capital, before returning to the Vatican.
Crowds began packing into the waterfront area in the early morning, standing shoulder-to-shoulder under heavy security, with helicopters circling overhead. Streets leading to the site were emptied long before the service began.
The Pope again prayed for peace “in this beloved land, marked by wars and instability”, and urged worshippers to “be artisans of peace, heralds of peace, witnesses of peace”.
About 120,000 people attended the Mass on Beirut's waterfront, a site better known for glitzy events and hosting famous DJs.
“The Middle East needs new approaches in order to reject the mindset of revenge and violence, to overcome political, social and religious divisions, to open new chapters in the name of reconciliation and peace,” the Pope said in a multilingual ceremony.
He warned that “the path of mutual hostility and the horror of war has been travelled been too long, with the deplorable results that are before everyone's eyes. We need to change course, we need to educate our hearts for peace.”
Later, as he prepared to depart from Beirut airport he declared: "While weapons are lethal, negotiation, mediation and dialogue are constructive. Let us all choose peace as a way, not just as a goal!"
Worshippers had begun queuing for the eagerly anticipated Mass since the early hours. Afterwards, the Pope left for the airport to finish his first trip abroad since becoming head of the Catholic Church in May.
Yasmeena Farjallah, who was in attendance, said she felt "blessed and lucky to be here". She added: "I think it shows that our nation, no matter what it goes through, it's still a blessed nation, a blessed country.
"And no matter how much violence there is in this country, it still represents peace, Christianity and love, and I really hope that his coming will bless our country for good."
The pontiff greeted worshippers from his popemobile as he made his way to the pulpit. Mr Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and senior political figures representing Lebanon’s many sects sat in the front rows.
Beirut resident Elven Daher, who is originally from Marjayoun in south Lebanon, had been waiting since 8am. He said: “It’s an amazing feeling. I hope his visit brings to Lebanon a lot of joy, peace and stability. Maybe a few years later we can tell our kids about this.”
The Mass is the highlight and final item on the agenda of Pope Leo's three-day visit. Before arriving, he led a silent prayer at Beirut Port, where more than 220 people were killed and hundreds injured in August 2020, in one of the world's largest non-nuclear explosions. Pope Leo also met families of victims of the deadly blast.
No one has been held responsible five years on from the disaster and the inquiry has repeatedly been impeded.
William Noun, whose brother Joe was among the firefighters killed on that day, said: “The Pope came to the families, spoke to a bunch of us and listened.
"He knows about the judicial struggles here in Lebanon, of course he’s not going to talk about the [explosion] in detail, but just the fact that he came down and stood at the port tells those responsible if they are really believers then they will do what needs to be done," added Mr Noun, holding his young child Joe.
"I was deeply moved by my brief visit to the Port of Beirut," the Pope said from the airport."I carry with me the pain, and the thirst for truth and justice, of so many families, of an entire country," he added.
The Pope's visit brought a message of hope to a nation that is still subjected to frequent Israeli attacks despite a ceasefire that came into effect last year.
Tuesday is the last day of a historic trip that took in Turkey before Lebanon. The late Pope Francis had planned to visit both nations but his deteriorating health prevented him from doing so. Pope Leo's coincided with the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which settled key aspects of Christian doctrine in what is now Iznik in Turkey.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Brief scoreline:
Tottenham 1
Son 78'
Manchester City 0
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Everton%20Fixtures
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WRESTLING HIGHLIGHTS
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
The biog
Favourite book: You Are the Placebo – Making your mind matter, by Dr Joe Dispenza
Hobby: Running and watching Welsh rugby
Travel destination: Cyprus in the summer
Life goals: To be an aspirational and passionate University educator, enjoy life, be healthy and be the best dad possible.
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
RESULT
Bayern Munich 3 Chelsea 2
Bayern: Rafinha (6'), Muller (12', 27')
Chelsea: Alonso (45' 3), Batshuayi (85')
Scoreline:
Manchester City 1
Jesus 4'
Brighton 0
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
MATCH INFO
Burnley 0
Man City 3
Raheem Sterling 35', 49'
Ferran Torres 65'
