Pope Leo XIV received Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the Vatican on Thursday morning, August 20. After the papal audience, President Aoun held talks with Holy See Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States. According to the Holy See Press Office, the discussions were cordial and centered on the Trilateral Framework Agreement signed by the United States, Israel, and Lebanon. The agreement aims to stabilize Lebanon’s southern border and bring about a just and lasting peace.
While welcoming the signing of the document, the Holy See expressed serious concern over the difficulties in putting it into practice. The Vatican assured its support for efforts to implement the agreement. In a statement from the Lebanese Presidency, President Aoun thanked Pope Leo XIV and the Holy See for their continued backing of Lebanon. He asked for further support for Beirut’s main demands, including urging Israel to honor the terms of the framework agreement signed on June 26 under U.S. mediation.
Aoun specifically called for an end to daily Israeli attacks targeting civilians, infrastructure, and villages in southern Lebanon. He also requested a withdrawal from occupied territories to allow reconstruction to begin and displaced people to return home. The President stressed that these steps must go hand in hand with extending the authority of the Lebanese state across all of its territory.
The Vatican meetings come as tensions remain high in southern Lebanon. Despite a temporary ceasefire reached with Israel on April 17, attacks have continued. Israel says it is targeting only Hezbollah infrastructure and personnel, while Beirut condemns the ongoing military operations. Political deadlock also persists over the future of the south, and no date has yet been set for the eighth round of U.S.-mediated talks meant to advance the framework agreement and build a roadmap to peace.