With the passing of Pope Francis, tributes have largely focused on his global spiritual leadership and influence within the Catholic Church. Less often highlighted, but of particular relevance to the work we do here at the Next Century Foundation, is his steady and sustained engagement in the Middle East.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis demonstrated a consistent commitment to dialogue, humanitarian principles, and interfaith cooperation. His actions in the region were not limited to symbolic gestures; in many cases, they coincided with – or contributed to – tangible diplomatic and social outcomes.
Engagement in Gaza
In his final Easter message in 2025, Pope Francis appealed for ceasefires in both Gaza and Ukraine. He urged immediate protection for civilians and called for access to humanitarian aid. By addressing these two very different conflicts in a single message, he reinforced a key point: the right to safety and dignity in war should not be subject to geography or politics.
Beyond public appeals, Pope Francis demonstrated personal concern for those affected by conflict. During the Gaza conflict, he called the parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza City every day at 6 pm to offer direct support and solidarity to the trapped Christian community sheltering there. He learnt the names of the congregation and asked after them individually. This daily outreach provided critical moral encouragement to a community isolated by violence and blockade.
In 2014, during his visit to the occupied West Bank, Pope Francis met with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders and visiting major Jewish, Christian, and Muslim sites. His visit avoided political rhetoric but affirmed shared spiritual values and the importance of peaceful coexistence.
Engagement in Iraq
Earlier, in 2021, Pope Francis made a historic visit to Iraq — the first by a sitting pontiff. The visit was not without risk, given the fragile security environment, but it reflected a deliberate decision to support post-conflict recovery. He travelled to cities previously under ISIS control, including Mosul and Qaraqosh, and met with religious and community leaders from different backgrounds. By visiting sites of destruction and sites of renewal, he reinforced the importance of rebuilding efforts grounded in inclusion and tolerance.
The Iraq government established a National Day of Tolerance and Coexistence on March 6th, as a direct consequence of the Pope’s visit.
In Iraq in 2021, his meeting with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani was equally significant. It marked one of the most high-profile Christian–Shia engagements in recent memory. The visit sent a clear message about the value of religious diversity and mutual respect, especially in societies emerging from sectarian conflict.
Interfaith Dialogue
Pope Francis approached interreligious engagement as a foundational element of world peace. He regularly advanced dialogue between Christianity, Islam, and Judaism — not just through meetings, but through formal documents and joint initiatives aimed at long-term cooperation.
A defining moment came in 2019 when he signed the Document on Human Fraternity with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, in Abu Dhabi. The document advocated for mutual understanding, religious freedom, and rejection of violence. It has since shaped interfaith education and dialogue platforms across several Middle Eastern countries.
These efforts were not simply about religious diplomacy. They formed part of a broader strategy to encourage local and regional actors to consider cooperation over division, and dialogue over confrontation.
Support for Lebanon
Pope Francis consistently used his position to draw international attention to fragile states and vulnerable communities. While his political power was limited, his platform enabled him to raise issues that might otherwise have been ignored.
Lebanon was a key focus of this advocacy. During the country’s prolonged economic crisis, he urged international donors to provide assistance and called on Lebanese leaders to prioritise national unity over sectarian competition. In 2021, he hosted Christian leaders from Lebanon at the Vatican to encourage dialogue and underscore the importance of preserving the country’s religious and cultural balance.
Support for Fragile Migrants and Religious Minorities
He also addressed the ongoing challenges faced by Christian minorities across the region — including in Syria, Iraq, and Egypt. Rather than framing these issues in exclusively sectarian terms, he highlighted the importance of pluralism and the need for all communities, regardless of faith, to be able to live and worship freely in their homelands.
This approach reflected a long-term concern with the social cohesion of post-conflict societies, where minority rights often serve as a bellwether for broader democratic and peace-building processes.
He also cared deeply for migrants. He was the child of migrant parents and on this issue he was capable of being controversial. Notably he often said, “We should build bridges not walls”, and did not hesitate to do so whilst visiting America.
Conclusion: A Model of Sustained Engagement
Pope Francis’s legacy in the Middle East is one of consistency, credibility, and moral clarity. While he did not seek to resolve conflicts himself, he ensured that humanitarian values remained part of the dialogue. He promoted coexistence without taking sides, and highlighted the experiences of vulnerable populations without politicising them.
For institutions like the Next Century Foundation, which promote peace through dialogue and understanding, his example offers a valuable reference point. His work reminds us that long-term engagement, even without immediate political returns, plays a vital role in supporting the conditions for peace.
Pope Francis – “Peace does not demand winners or losers, but rather brothers and sisters who, for all the misunderstandings and hurts of the past, are journeying from conflict to unity.”
