Patriarch of Antioch calls for Lebanese unity, end to violence during visit to Baabda Palace

Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East called for national unity, an end to violence and the strengthening of state institutions in Lebanon during an address at Baabda Presidential Palace on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

Speaking on behalf of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Antioch, Patriarch John expressed his support for the Lebanese President and emphasized the need to bring the country’s communities together amid regional instability.

He explained that the word synod literally refers to a community walking together along the same path, presenting this principle as a model for Lebanon’s national unity.

The Patriarch expressed confidence in the President’s ability to unite the Lebanese people and guide the country through a period marked by violence, political tensions and international rivalries.

He stressed that Lebanon should not become a battleground for competing foreign interests and highlighted the historic role of the Orthodox Church of Antioch as a bridge between the country’s religious and social communities.

Call for Israeli withdrawal and stronger state institutions Addressing Lebanon’s pressing challenges, Patriarch John called for an end to…