Pope Leo XIV arrives in Lebanon on second leg of debut international trip

Pope Leo XIV The Pope arrived in Lebanon on Sunday, beginning the second half of his first international tour as Pope, after three days in Türkiye marked by calls for unity, peace, and renewed relations between Christian denominations.

His stop in Lebanon places him in a country where Christians have faced prolonged war, instability and a wave of migration that has reshaped the country’s demographics.

Lebanon was once a majority Christian country, a balance reflected in the 1932 census that recorded Christians as representing just over half the population. No official census has been conducted since then, but demographic studies and independent estimates show a significant shift over the past century. As Reuters reported, Christians are now believed to “make up nearly a third of Lebanon’s population,” a decline driven by migration, conflict and changing birth rates.

Pope Leo XIV opens his first foreign trip in Türkiye with a visit to the strongholds of early Christianity

Pope Leo (Dilara Sinkaya/Reuters/Pool)

JPD Gans, founder and president of Communio, told Fox News Digital that Türkiye and Lebanon were the choice popeThe first destinations are intended. “Pope Leo chose to make Turkey and Lebanon the location of his first trip, most likely to emphasize two major themes of his papacy. After leaving the conclave that elected him, he placed great emphasis on both unity and peace.”

Lebanon represents the most emotional part of the trip. The last papal visit was in 2012. Pope Francis He had hoped to travel there but was unable to make the trip due to health concerns. Lebanon is often described as having the highest percentage of Christians in the Middle East, but these communities have been devastated by economic collapse, political paralysis and mass migration over the past decade.

Pope Leo Pope Leo XIV is making his first foreign trip on a six-day visit to Türkiye and Lebanon. During his trip, the Pope is scheduled to meet with faithful from local Catholic communities, as well as political and religious leaders, to draw attention to regional issues. (Photo by Simone Risolotti – Vatican Media via Vatican Congregation/Getty Images) ((PHSimone Risoluti/Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

The Associated Press reported that the Pope’s schedule includes meetings with political leaders, Christian and Muslim clergy, and families affected by overlapping national crises. The decisive moment will come on December 2 when he visits the port of Beirut, the site of the 2020 explosion that killed more than 200 people and injured thousands. His presence there is expected to attract great attention in a country where many are still demanding accountability for the explosion.

Local media reported that large crowds were expected despite deep infrastructure problems and ongoing security challenges.

The Pope arrives in the middle of Uhud Lebanon’s most turbulent period For years, with frequent exchanges of fire along the southern border throughout 2024 and 2025 between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. The clashes have displaced residents and raised fears of a wider conflict, raising questions about whether the situation might force last-minute changes to the papal itinerary.

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A billboard depicting Pope Leo XIV, ahead of his scheduled visit to Lebanon, on the main airport road in Beirut, Lebanon, November 21, 2025. (Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni addressed these concerns in comments to EWTN Vatican, stressing that the timeline remains the same. “There is no specific concern related to the latest Israeli strike,” Bruni said. He added, “The situation was already known until a few months ago, and all necessary precautionary measures were taken.”

De Gennes said that the visit to Lebanon confirms the Pope’s focus on Christians in the most vulnerable areas. “In terms of peace, I think the Pope added Lebanon to this journey because a large number of Christian communities — both those in full contact with Rome and those who are Eastern Orthodox — are suffering in a war-torn region.”

He added that the trip also aims to draw international attention to communities that are often overlooked. “Leo will likely want to bring the bully pulpit of the papacy to the region to bring a message of peace that also stands up for those who are often forgotten in the West – Eastern Christian brothers and sisters“.

Pope Leo

Posters of Pope Leo (Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)

The themes that emerged in Lebanon mirror those in Türkiye, where Pope Leo called for dialogue amid regional tensions. His inaugural days as pope emphasized reconciliation, solidarity and support for Christian communities navigating political and social turmoil.

His visit to Türkiye, where the Pope celebrated the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea in Iznik. At an ecumenical prayer near the archaeological remains associated with the complex, he met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and other Christian leaders.

De Gans highlighted the importance of the celebration. “Pope Leo has chosen to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which has historical significance because this council helped define the reality – still accepted now by Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox – that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man.” He added: “At the time of the council’s convening, a large number of Christians began to reject this centralization Apostolic truth. This first council helped settle this dispute, and is rightly celebrated today by those in East and West as creating greater unity within the entire Church.

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Pope Leo (Photo by Paris Seckin/Anadolu via Getty Images) ((Photo by Paris Seckin/Anadolu via Getty Images)

During the celebrations, Pope Leo emphasized the common Christian heritage found in the Nicene Creed, a fundamental statement of faith recited across denominations.

For many Lebanese Christians, his arrival represents a moment of recognition from Rome and a source of hope during a period of profound national uncertainty.