Pope Leo XIV arrives in Lebanon on the second leg of his Debut International Trip

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Lebanon on Sunday, opening the second part of his first international trip as Pontiff after three days in Tontifs after three days in Tontkey marked by calls for unity, peace and renewed ties between Christian communities.

His position in Lebanon puts him in a nation where Christians have been facing for a long time, instability and a wave of migration that has repopulated the population.

Lebanon was once a Christian country – the majority was reflected in the 1932 census which recorded Christians as part of the population. No official census has been done since then, but humanistic studies and independent estimates show significant changes in the last century. As Reuters reported, Christians are now “believed to make up about a third of Lebanon’s population,” a decline driven by migration, conflict and changing birth rates.

Pope Leo xiv opens the first foreign trip to Turkey by visiting the early hearts of Christianity

JP de Gance, the founder and President of Communio, told FOX News Digital that the selection of Turkey and Lebanon as the first places of the pope’s goals. “Pope Leo chose to make Turkey and Lebanon the place of his first journey most likely to emphasize the two main themes of his formation.”

Lebanon marks the most emotionally charged part of the trip. The last papal visit came in 2012. Pope Francis had hoped to go there, but was unable to make the trip due to health problems. Lebanon is often described as having the highest percentage of Christians in the Middle East, but these communities have been torn apart by economic collapse, political paralysis and mass migration over the past decade.

Pope Leo xiv arrives in a helicopter near the excavations of the ancient basilica of saints nephytos to participate in a prayer service with barkholomew i, the second day in Turkey on November 28, 2025 in Iznik, Turkey. Pope Leo xion made his first foreign trip on a six-day visit to Turkey and Lebanon. During his visit, the Pope is scheduled to meet with the faithful of local Catholic communities, as well as political and religious leaders, drawing attention to regional issues. (Photo by Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Victoria Pool / Getty Images) ((phsimone rusoluti / Vatican media via Victoria Pool / Getty Images)

The accompanying press reported that the Pope’s schedule includes meetings with political leaders, Christians and Muslims as well as families affected by the country’s many problems. The key moment will come on December 2 when he visited the port of Beirut, the site of the 2020 explosion that killed more than 200 people and injured thousands. His presence is expected to attract a lot of attention in a country where many still want to respond with an explosion.

Local media outlets report that large crowds are expected despite serious infrastructure problems and ongoing security challenges.

The Pope arrives in the middle of one of Lebanon’s periods, with repeated exchanges of fire along the southern border until 2024 and 2025 between the forces of Hezbollah and the forces of Israel. The citizens were condemned by the citizens and raised fears of a wider conflict, prompting questions as to whether the situation could force last-minute changes in the PAPAL TINERY.

Pope Leo xioni XIV agrees to throw out the first pitch at the White Sox’s new stadium after inviting the team’s owner

A billboard showing Pope Leo XIV, before his visit to Lebanon, on the main airport in Beirut, Lebanon Nov. 21, 2025. (Mohamed Azakir / Reuters)

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni addressed those concerns in a comment to Ewtn Vatican, confirming that the system remains intact. “There is no particular concern related to the latest Israeli strike,” Bruni said. He added that “this situation was already well known even a few months ago, and all the necessary precautions have been taken.”

De Gance said the leg in Lebanon emphasizes the pope’s focus on Christians in the most vulnerable regions. I believe the pope even more in this matter during this trip because many Christian communities – both those in full communion with Rome and those in the Eastern Orethodox – are suffering from a war-torn region. “

He added that this trip aims to draw the attention of other countries to the communities more often in the communities. “Leo may want to bring the bully pulpit of the unthinking populace to the region to bring a message of peace that also encourages those who are often forgotten in the west – our Christian brothers and sisters in the east.”

Pope Leo XIV strongly supports the Bishops’ ‘condemnation of Trump.’ ‘

Posters of Pope Leo XIV, along with Lebanese flags and Vatican flags, placed on the side of the road before his visit to Lebanon, Hazmieh, Lebanon, on Nov. 28, 2025. (Mohamed Azakir / Reuters)

Themes from the Lebanon Mirror are still in the news, where Pope Leo did not refer to the dialogue between the conflicts. His opening days as the Pontiff emphasized reconciliation, solidarity and support for Christian communities navigate political and social development.

His visit to Turkey, where the Pope marked the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea in İznik. In the ecumenical prayer service next to the raturaecilogical associated with the Council, he gathered with the religious patriarch of Bartholomew I and other Christian leaders.

De Genta highlighted the importance of the memorial. “Pope Leo chose to commemorate the 1,700 years of the Council of Nicaea, which has such a testimony because this council helped to define Protestants, now that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly.” He added, “At the time of the Council, many Christians had begun to reject this central Apostolic truth. This first council helped to settle this controversy and is celebrated appropriately today throughout the church.”

Click here to download the FOX News app

Pope Leo xiony attended the ceremony to mark the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea held at Lake Iznik, 2025. Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos (R) attended the ceremony. (Photo by Baris seckin / anadolu via Getty Images) ((Photo by baris seckin / anadolu via Getty Images)

During the festivities, Pope Leo emphasized the visible Christian values ​​found in the Nicene Creed, a twofold fundamental statement of faith.

For many Christians in Lebanon, his arrival provides a moment of recognition in Rome and a source of hope at a time of deep uncertainty in the country.