Pope Leo XIV arrived in Beirut on Sunday, marking the second stop of his first overseas trip since becoming pontiff in May. The visit, coming directly from Türkiye, is being hailed as a moment of spiritual encouragement for a nation struggling with deep political and economic crises.
The pope was received with full state honours at Rafik Hariri International Airport by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi. Crowds lined the road from the airport to the presidential palace in Baabda, waving Vatican and Lebanese flags as the papal motorcade made its way through the capital.
Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos said on social media platform X that Lebanon “warmly welcomes” the pontiff at a critical moment for the country, noting that more than 1,000 journalists are covering the visit.
“The visit brings great hope to a people struggling with crises,” he wrote.
Pope Leo’s three-day visit to Lebanon — his first as head of the Catholic Church — will include meetings with top political and religious leaders, as well as interfaith gatherings and public ceremonies aimed at promoting dialogue and peace in the region.
After a welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace in Baabda, the pope will meet the country’s leadership, followed by sessions with civil society representatives and diplomats before retiring to the apostolic nunciature in Harissa, north of Beirut.
On Monday (1 December), Pope Leo will travel to the mountain town of Annaya to pray at the Shrine of Saint Charbel, a revered Maronite monk known for his miracles. Later in the day, he will meet bishops, priests, and pastoral workers at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, and hold a private meeting with Catholic patriarchs at the nunciature.
The pontiff will also join an interfaith and ecumenical gathering at Martyrs’ Square in central Beirut, bringing together representatives of Lebanon’s diverse religious communities. The day will conclude with an encounter with young people at the Maronite patriarchal complex in Bkerke, underscoring his call for hope and renewal among Lebanon’s youth.
On Tuesday (2 December), Pope Leo is scheduled to visit medical staff and patients at the Sisters of the Cross Hospital in Jal el-Dib and lead a silent prayer at the site of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, which devastated parts of the capital.
The historic visit will conclude with an open-air Mass on Beirut’s waterfront, expected to draw tens of thousands of worshippers, followed by an official farewell ceremony at the airport.
The pope’s arrival — his first to an Arab country since assuming the papacy — is seen as a strong gesture of solidarity with Lebanon’s Christian community and a broader call for peace and coexistence in a region still grappling with the aftershocks of conflict.
Swiss voters decide whether to back a proposal to cap the country's population in a referendum likened to Britain's Brexit vote, which could have far-...
U.S. and Pakistani leaders forecast a Sunday signing of a long-elusive framework agreement to end fighting between the United States and Iran, but Teh...
U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Fore...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 13 June, covering the latest developments you need to know....
As the 2026 World Cup kicked off on 11 June across North America, U.S. visa restrictions and travel policies have made it impossible for supporters, ...
Pope Leo continued his visit to Türkiye in Istanbul on Thursday (27 November), following a round of meetings in Ankara. This marks his first trip outside Italy since being elected in May as the leader of the 1.4-billion-strong Catholic Church.
Pope Leo XIV spoke to political leaders in Rome on Saturday, urging them to remember that artificial intelligence is just a tool — not a replacement for humans.
Newly elected pontiff Pope Leo XIV has officially joined platforms like X and Instagram, with the Vatican confirming the activation of his social media accounts.
Pope Leo XIV made his first public outing on Saturday since being elected, stopping to pray at the tomb of Pope Francis at St Mary Major Basilica in Rome.
Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to block or significantly reduce river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty could have “far-reaching consequences”, after India's water minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that “not a single drop” of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years.
SpaceX made a historic entrance into the Nasdaq on Friday, surging over 20% in its first day of trading and lifting its valuation to more than $2 trillion. Investors flocked to the world’s largest IPO, betting on Elon Musk’s sprawling empire spanning rockets, AI and beyond.
Armenia has every right to choose Europe. But Europe’s support for Armenia’s direction should not become automatic approval of its political process.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying no deal would be approved this weekend.
Japan’s birth rate and fertility levels have fallen to their lowest levels on record, highlighting the country’s worsening demographic crisis as fewer people marry and have children.
Swiss voters decide whether to back a proposal to cap the country's population in a referendum likened to Britain's Brexit vote, which could have far-reaching consequences for the economy and Bern's relations with the European Union.
Every June, roughly 13 million young people in China sit down at the same time to take the same test. They have been preparing for it, in many cases, since primary school. Their families have rearranged their lives around it.
European museums are increasingly returning cultural artefacts to countries in Africa and the Middle East, as pressure grows to address the legacy of colonialism and disputed ownership.
Uganda’s health ministry has raised concerns over what it described as unfair travel restrictions imposed during the current Ebola outbreak, warning that such measures risk undermining transparent reporting. .
Georgia is overhauling its migration laws in one of the most significant legal reforms in years, introducing criminal penalties for fake marriages, tighter controls on foreign students and expanded investigative powers for the migration authorities.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment