Pope Leo is traveling to Lebanon on Sunday to deliver a strong message of peace to a nation repeatedly struck by Israeli air raids amid regional conflict. His visit marks the second and final stop of his first overseas tour since assuming leadership of the Catholic Church earlier this year.
He arrives from Turkey, where he spent four days urging global leaders to confront the rising wave of violent conflicts threatening humanity’s future. During the trip, he strongly condemned all forms of religious violence and emphasized the need for unity among diverse faith communities.
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Leo will land at Beirut’s Hariri International Airport before meeting Lebanon’s president and prime minister, followed by an address to national leaders. His visit comes at a tense moment for Lebanon, which has the largest Christian population in the Middle East and remains deeply affected by the Gaza war spillover.
Moreover, the country is facing mounting fears of intensified Israeli strikes as clashes between Israel and Hezbollah continue to escalate. Lebanese officials are also struggling to assist nearly one million Syrian and Palestinian refugees while trying to recover from years of severe economic collapse.
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Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem expressed hope that the pope’s arrival would help halt Israeli attacks. Lebanon’s religious communities, including Druze leaders, have also welcomed the visit, calling it a much-needed symbol of hope during a period of prolonged instability.
Pope Leo, relatively unknown before becoming pope in May, is now closely watched as he delivers his first international speeches. His schedule includes visits to five Lebanese cities, prayers at the site of Beirut’s 2020 port explosion, an outdoor Mass on the waterfront and a visit to a psychiatric hospital caring for vulnerable residents.