Following the tragic death of a Maronite priest, Father Pierre El-Rahi, who was killed by an Israeli tank in Qlayaa, South Lebanon, on 9 March 2026, in a joint US-Israel ongoing onslaught against Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon, the Holy Father has eulogised the martyred cleric, comparing his heroic sacrifice to that of Jesus.
In a message of comfort to the people of Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV stated that Father Pierre “was a true shepherd who always remained beside his people with the love and sacrifice of Jesus.
The Pontiff underlined that the priest was indeed like “the Good Shepherd,” while calling an end to war in the Middle East.
The successor of St. Peter “expressed deep sorrow” over the violence in the Middle East and the killing of “many innocents, including many children,” and aid workers.
According to Lebanese media reports, the priest who sought to assist parishioners whose house had been fired upon by an Israeli tank died in the rescue effort.
Vatican News reported that Fr. El-Rahi rushed to the house in the mountainous area of his parish with several young people when the tank struck again, wounding him, adding that he was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his wounds.
Faithful holding the coffin of Father Pierre al-Rahi during his funeral in Qlayaa, Southern Lebanon, on March 11, 2026. Credit: OSV News/Karamallah Daher, Reuters
A few days before his tragic death, Father Pierre was quoted as saying: “We have decided to remain here despite the danger, because these are our homes and we will not leave them. We will not allow anyone to enter our village and use it for anything.”
The priest, who was a non-violent pacifist, reportedly said, “None of us carries any weapons. We carry nothing but kindness, goodness, love and prayer.” —Father Pierre El Rahi
While prayers are offered for Father Pierre El-Rahi, the people of Qlayaa, and for the protection of all civilian communities in South Lebanon, a concerned commentator on Eastern Christians wrote, “Today, people of all generations stood in shock and sorrow.”
The writer quoted a youth at the parish where the priest was killed as saying, “He was our backbone. Whenever something happened in our village, he was the one who resolved it. He always made sure we were safe, especially during these difficult times. Now we feel like we have lost our shepherd.”
Shane Claiborne wrote on social media that Father Pierre El Rahi, who “was killed by the US and Israel in Lebanon…was a faithful, deeply loved Christian leader,” adding that this is “the latest reminder that this war is killing precious people made in the image of God.”
The Vicar of Christ offered prayers for “all the victims of the bombings of recent days in the Middle East, for the many innocent people, including many children, and for those who helped them, like Father Pierre El-Rahi.”
