Archbishop Paolo Borgia, Apostolic Nuncio in Lebanon since 2022, personally delivered humanitarian aid to southern Lebanese villages on March 13, highlighting the urgent need for continued international support amid ongoing conflict.
Speaking to Vatican News from Harissa Hill, where the illuminated statue of Our Lady of Lebanon overlooks Beirut, Archbishop Borgia reflected on the tense experience. “Now, right now, I heard a blast from the Nunciature… It means the music is starting again in Beirut,” he said, describing the mix of fear and resilience he witnessed.
Earlier, the Archbishop attended the funeral of Father Pierre El-Rahi, a Maronite priest killed while assisting an injured parishioner, before setting out to deliver 15 tons of aid provided by L’Œuvre d’Orient. Videos and photos of him unloading supplies in cassock, sash, and zucchetto went viral on Lebanese social media.
“We rolled up our sleeves to unload all the materials so we could get started,” he told Vatican News, recounting visits to six villages. There, he met diverse communities, including Maronite, Orthodox, Greek-Melkite, Latin, Druze, and Sunni groups. He described the visits as “wonderful moments of fraternity” despite the danger, recalling that three mortar shells were fired while he knelt at a village altar. “Someone told me, ‘Your Excellency, they are welcoming you.’ We laughed about it,” he said.
Archbishop Borgia emphasized the local population’s strong faith in the Holy See and Pope Leo XIV, noting the comfort many felt after the pontiff’s December 2025 visit. “People needed support and, above all, a word from the Pope,” he said.
The Nuncio also highlighted the humanitarian and security challenges. Roads and communications in Qlayaa and surrounding villages have been damaged or blocked following Hezbollah’s missile attacks and Israel’s selective bombings. Around 800,000 people are registered for assistance on the Ministry of Social Affairs website, with approximately 120,000 receiving support at local centers. “People in the centers are afraid. It’s a peculiar situation,” he told Vatican News.
Archbishop Borgia concluded with a plea for peace: “We hope the war ends soon and that life and normality can return. Let us hope for the best.”
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