Pope Leo XIV plans first foreign visit to Lebanon by December
A Vatican official, speaking on condition of anonymity, affirmed that Lebanon is included in the Pope’s upcoming travel plans and suggested that the trip could be part of a broader regional tour that may also include Türkiye in late November, with Lebanon likely to follow.
Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros said that Pope Leo XIV intends to visit Lebanon before the end of this year, in what could mark his first trip abroad since assuming the papacy.
Speaking to Al Arabiya TV, Al-Rai said preparations are already underway, noting: “The Pope will visit Lebanon… from now until December… Preparations are underway for the visit, but it is not known when. We are waiting for the Vatican to announce it.”
A senior Lebanese official also confirmed that discussions about the visit are ongoing, with the possibility of scheduling it toward the end of the year, though no final date has been set.
Meanwhile, a Vatican official, speaking on condition of anonymity, affirmed that Lebanon is included in the Pope’s upcoming travel plans and suggested that the trip could be part of a broader regional tour that may also include Türkiye. Pope Leo XIV is expected to visit Türkiye in late November, with Lebanon likely to follow.
The anticipated visit comes at a time when Lebanon is grappling with political paralysis and deepening economic hardship. Many see the Pope’s presence as a message of hope and solidarity with the Lebanese people.
On Tuesday, Pope Leo XIV called on Catholics and others to observe a day of fasting and prayer on Friday for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine, and other regions plagued by conflict.
If confirmed, the December visit would carry strong symbolic weight, as Lebanon has long been regarded by the Vatican as a model of religious coexistence in the Middle East.
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