Pope Leon XIV Begins Historic 2025 Visit to Lebanon with Call for Peace and Unity

Pope Leon XIV arrived in Lebanon on November 30, 2025, commencing a significant 48-hour visit aimed at promoting peace and unity amid the country's ongoing crises. Welcomed at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport by Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun— the only Christian head of state in the Arab world— the Pope received military honors including a 21-gun salute, with port ships sounding horns in celebration.

This marks the first papal visit to Lebanon since Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, occurring in a nation of 5.8 million people struggling with an economic collapse ongoing since 2019 and tensions stemming from recent Israeli airstrikes. Despite the diminishing Christian population due to youth emigration, Christians retain a crucial political role in Lebanon. The Holy Father’s presence underscores the importance of religious diversity and calls for solidarity among Lebanon’s diverse communities amid a complex political environment influenced by groups like Hezbollah.

The Lebanese government has declared two public holidays and implemented tight security measures, including road closures and drone restrictions, to ensure the visit’s safety. During his stay, Pope Leon XIV is scheduled to deliver addresses to authorities and the diplomatic corps, reinforcing messages of peace and coexistence.

Prior to Lebanon, the Pope concluded a visit to Turkey where he prayed at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Istanbul and honored the Armenian people’s historical courage, acknowledging their Christian testimony amidst hardship without directly referencing the Armenian genocide. His Lebanon visit follows this, highlighting ongoing Vatican efforts to foster Christian unity and regional peace.

Pope Leon XIV’s visit is a notable moment for Lebanon, bringing hope and recognition to a country facing serious socio-political and economic challenges, and resonating with Lebanon’s historical ties to France and the broader international community.