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.
The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has risen to 161, after forensic analysis confirmed one more victim among the charred rema...
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has described playing the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil as a “positive responsibility”, as the Atlas Lions prep...
Georgia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6.4% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, reaching GEL 27.9 billion, according to prelimin...
The United States has seized an oil tanker last docked in Venezuela, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on Saturday....
Taiwanese authorities confirmed on Saturday that a series of planned knife and smoke-grenade attacks in Taipei left three people dead and 11 others in...
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.
Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide €90 billion in support over the next two years, calling it a vital lifeline even as the bloc failed to reach agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance the aid.
Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets on Thursday evening to protest against the outgoing government, demanding fair elections and judicial reforms to address what they describe as widespread corruption.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Poland on Thursday following a summit of the European Council in Brussels.
The United States has suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery programme, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, after a deadly shooting at Brown University.
US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to seek full control of Ukraine and to expand Russia’s influence in parts of Europe formerly under Soviet rule, contradicting repeated claims that Moscow poses no threat to the continent.
Japan and five Central Asian nations have unveiled a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening critical minerals supply chains and fostering broader regional cooperation, following their first summit in Tokyo on Saturday.
The United States has proposed a potential new format for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which could include American and European representatives, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday, December 20.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Baghdad on Saturday evening for an official visit, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry confirmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on 29 December in Florida, where he is expected to present a package of military options regarding Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Saturday.
The United States and Venezuela have been jamming GPS signals in parts of the Caribbean, raising safety concerns for civilian air and maritime traffic, as tensions between the two countries escalate, according to The New York Times.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment