In this episode of the IRREVOCABLE podcast, hosted by Father Andre Mahanna of the Mission of Hope and Mercy, guest Tom Harb, Co-Chair of the American Middle East Coalition for Democracy (AMCD), discusses Pope Leo XIV's recent visit to Lebanon: Lebanon's cultural, religious, and political landscape amid ongoing challenges.

Cultural/Religious Reflections:

The episode begins with a light-hearted rendition of "Jingle Bells" and transitions to reflections on Saint Barbara's feast day, celebrated in Lebanon with children in disguises (similar to Halloween), drawing from her martyrdom story in AD 235.

Father Mahanna shares synaxarion details, emphasizing her faith and miraculous healings.Harb recounts childhood memories of the tradition in Lebanon, linking it to Christmas preparations, and contrasts it with U.S. holidays like Thanksgiving.

They highlight Lebanon's Christian heritage, including saints like Charbel Makhlouf, whose tomb emitted light during Ottoman rule, other child martyrs like Aquilina and Christina, and biblical ties to Lebanon as "Land of Saints.”

Pope XIV's Visit to Lebanon

The discussion centers on Pope Leo XIV's recent three-day visit (ending Dec 2, 2025), themed "Blessed are the Peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9). The Pope emphasized peace 48 times in his speeches, urging internal reform, forgiveness, and anti-corruption efforts.

Harb praises the visit for shifting focus from mere coexistence to genuine peace, starting from individuals and families. He notes the Pope's message aligns with President Trump's peace initiatives, contrasting it with prior papal visits that stressed Christian-Muslim coexistence.

Key moments include the Pope's address at the Presidential Palace, his call for justice at the 2020 Beirut port explosion site (the largest non-nuclear blast, linked to Hezbollah-stored nitrates), and interactions with religious leaders in Harissa.

Lebanon's Crises

Lebanon is described as the "Land of Saints" with deep biblical ties (mentioned 71-73 times in the Bible), but facing existential threats: terrorism (Hezbollah's grip), corruption, economic collapse, demographic shifts, and displacement from ongoing conflicts.

Harb outlines historical conflicts: the 1975-1990 civil war, Syrian occupation, Iranian influence via Hezbollah, and Palestinian use of Lebanon as a base against Israel. He notes Christian population decline across the Middle East (except in Israel, where it grows 1.6-1.7%), attributing it to Sunni-Shia power struggles victimizing minorities.

Political Islam (both Sunni and Shia) is critiqued for lacking tolerance, with calls for federation to protect minorities. The Beirut explosion investigation remains stalled due to Hezbollah interference.

They discuss Israel's role: historical alliances (e.g., 1982 under Ariel Sharon and Bashir Gemayel), current military actions against Hezbollah as "justice" for Lebanon, and potential peace benefits like economic prosperity (comparing Israel's $550B GDP to Lebanon's $50B).

Calls to Action

Father Mahanna promotes the Mission of Hope and Mercy's End-of-Year Campaign ($62,000 goal) for food, medicine, housing, and Christmas gifts in Lebanon, sharing personal war stories from his childhood.

Harb encourages contacting U.S. lawmakers to push Lebanon-Israel peace for stability and prosperity, predicting 2026 as a "year of peace." He shares his X handle @harbtom for updates.

The episode ends with blessings, emphasizing mercy, justice, and grassroots support for Middle East Christians, tying back to Advent and Christmas themes.