Pope Leo has urged political leaders in Lebanon to make peace their highest priority in a forceful appeal as he is visiting the country, which remains a target of Israeli airstrikes, on the second leg of his first overseas trip as Catholic leader.

Leo, the first US pope, arrived in Beirut on Sunday from a four-day visit to Turkey where he warned that humanity’s future was at risk because of the world’s unusual number of bloody conflicts, and condemned violence in the name of religion.

Addressing a presidential palace chamber packed with politicians and religious leaders from Lebanon’s many sects, he opened his speech by repeating the words of Jesus: “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Using the word peace more than 20 times during his speech, Leo said Lebanon must now persevere with peace

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