Washington talks secure ceasefire in Lebanon as Pope Leo mourns victims

The U.S. brokered a three-week extension of the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon April 23 following talks at the White House.

The meeting included President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, along with Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli representatives. It was the second round of direct, ambassador-level talks aimed at containing cross-border violence after both Israel and Hezbollah accused one another of violating the original ceasefire. 

As Zeale News reported, Israeli strikes killed at least five people in southern Lebanon on April 22 and wounded several others. 

Huckabee described Hezbollah, the Shia Muslim political and military organization in Lebanon, as the central obstacle to peace, saying, “The problem is not Lebanon, the problem is not Israel, the problem is Hezbollah.”

Lebanese officials, including representatives of President Joseph Aoun, focused on securing the ceasefire extension and called for an end to Israeli strikes, a withdrawal from disputed areas in southern Lebanon and a halt to home demolitions.

As Zeale News reported, U.S. Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan warned in early April of the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, urging Trump and global leaders to expand aid as Israeli strikes killed thousands and displaced over one million. He asked for prayers for the civilians — especially Christians — in the area, stating it’s “not their war, but they’re the victims.” 

Lebanon's official death toll since Israel launched its new military campaign March 2 stands at 2,454, and an additional 7,658 have been wounded, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. 

Trump said the meeting went “very well” and expressed optimism about broader peace efforts.

Moawad thanked Trump for his role in the talks, saying, “I want to really say thank you to the United States, under your leadership, for all your effort to help and to support Lebanon.”

Pope Leo: “As a pastor, I cannot be in favor of war” 

Pope Leo XIV said April 23 he carries in his pocket a photo of a Muslim boy killed in Lebanon’s conflict, using the image as a personal reminder of war’s human toll and declaring, “As a pastor, I cannot be in favor of war.”

The pontiff made the comments aboard the papal plane returning from an 11-day trip to Africa, where he again called for peace across several homilies. 

He recalled meeting the Lebanese boy during his visit to the country late last year. The child was holding a sign welcoming him, the Holy Father said.

“I carry with me a photo of a Muslim child who, during the visit to Lebanon, was waiting there with a sign saying ‘Welcome Pope Leo,’” he told reporters. “He has been killed in this final phase of the war.”

“There are many human situations like this.”