Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Lebanon, Launching Peace Mission to Wounded Nation
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff in history, arrived in Beirut on Sunday afternoon, November 30, 2025, commencing the second and final leg of his inaugural six-day apostolic journey abroad. The Pope’s visit to Lebanon, often referred to as the “Land of the Cedars,” is heavily focused on a mission of peace and unity for a country grappling with profound political paralysis, economic collapse, and the ongoing repercussions of regional conflict, including intermittent cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah. Large, welcoming crowds gathered along the route from Rafic Hariri International Airport to the Presidential Palace, waving both Lebanese and Vatican flags.Upon arrival, Pope Leo was met by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri. Following the formal welcome, the Pope immediately traveled to the Presidential Palace in Baabda for a series of high-level meetings. He was scheduled to deliver an address to civil authorities, representatives of civil society, and the diplomatic corps, a speech widely anticipated to contain a forceful appeal for Lebanese leaders to overcome sectarian divisions, protect the nation’s unique religious diversity, and work toward the common good.The Pope’s three-day itinerary in Lebanon is packed with significant religious and cultural engagements.
On Monday, he will travel north to the mountains to pray at the tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf in the Monastery of Saint Maroun in Annaya and will lead a major ecumenical and interreligious encounter in Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square. On the final day, Tuesday, the Pope is scheduled to visit the site of the devastating 2020 Beirut port explosion to offer a silent prayer, a poignant gesture to honor the victims and survivors of the catastrophe. This mission to Lebanon follows the first half of the Pope’s trip to Turkey, which focused on promoting Christian unity by commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea alongside the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.
