Pope, Christian leaders press case for peace in Lebanon and Gaza

ROME – Amid multiple signs of an escalating conflict in the Middle East, Pope Francis and the Catholic leadership of the region are continuing their push for peace, focusing not only on the conflict in Gaza but also the mounting crossfire between Israel and Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon.

Francis on Monday met a group of family members of victims of a massive August 2020 port explosion in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, which caused at least 218 deaths along with more than 7,000 injuries...