Pope Leo XIV landed in Lebanon on Sunday, marking the beginning of the second leg of his inaugural international tour as pontiff. This visit follows a three-day stay in Turkey, where he advocated for unity, peace, and strengthened relationships among Christian communities.
The pope’s visit to Lebanon brings him to a nation where Christians have long contended with war, instability, and emigration, factors that have significantly altered the country’s demographic makeup.
Historically, Lebanon was predominantly Christian, as evidenced by the 1932 census, which recorded Christians as slightly more than half of the population. Although official censuses have not been conducted since, demographic studies and independent estimates suggest a substantial shift over the years. According to Reuters, Christians are now estimated to comprise about a third of Lebanon’s population, a change attributed to emigration, conflict, and evolving birth rates.
Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I participate in a joint declaration signing ceremony at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 29, 2025. (Dilara Senkaya/Reuters/Pool)
JP De Gance, founder and president of Communio, shared with Fox News Digital that the choice of Turkey and Lebanon for the pope’s first destinations was purposeful. “Pope Leo selected Turkey and Lebanon for his initial trip likely to highlight two major themes of his papacy. Following his election, he has focused heavily on unity and peace,” noted De Gance.
The visit to Lebanon is particularly poignant, marking the first papal visit since 2012. Although Pope Francis intended to visit, he was unable to due to health issues. Lebanon, often cited as having the highest concentration of Christians in the Middle East, has seen its Christian communities suffer from economic downturns, political gridlock, and significant emigration over the past decade.
Pope Leo XIV arrives near the archaeological excavations of the ancient Basilica of St. Neophytos on Nov. 28, 2025 in Iznik, Turkey. Pope Leo XIV is making his first foreign trip on a six-day visit to Turkey and Lebanon. (Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
The Associated Press reported that the pope’s schedule includes meetings with political leaders, Christian and Muslim clerics, and families affected by overlapping national crises. A key moment will come on Dec. 2 when he visits the Port of Beirut, the site of the 2020 explosion that killed more than 200 people and wounded thousands. His presence there is expected to draw significant attention in a country where many still demand accountability for the blast.
Local media outlets report that large crowds are expected despite deep infrastructure problems and ongoing security challenges.
The pope arrives amid one of Lebanon’s most volatile periods in years, with repeated exchanges of fire along the southern border throughout 2024 and 2025 between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. The clashes displaced residents and raised fears of a wider conflict, prompting questions about whether the situation might force last-minute changes to the papal itinerary.
A billboard depicting Pope Leo XIV, ahead of his planned visit to Lebanon, at the main airport road in Beirut, Nov. 21, 2025. (Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni addressed those concerns in comments to EWTN Vatican, confirming that the schedule remains intact. “There is no specific concern related to the recent Israeli strike,” Bruni said. He added that “the situation was already well known even a few months ago, and all necessary precautionary measures have been taken.”
De Gance said the Lebanon leg underscores the pope’s focus on Christians in the most vulnerable regions. “In terms of peace, I believe the pope has added Lebanon to this trip because a great many Christian communities — both those in full communion with Rome and those who are Eastern Orthodox — are suffering in a war-torn region.”
He added that the trip also aims to draw international attention to communities often overlooked. “Leo likely wants to bring the bully pulpit of the papacy to the region to bring a message of peace that also advocates for those often forgotten in the West — our Eastern Christian brothers and sisters.”
Posters of Pope Leo XIV, along with Lebanese and Vatican flags, are placed along a road ahead of his planned visit, in Hazmieh, Lebanon, on Nov. 28, 2025. (Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)
The themes emerging in Lebanon mirror those set in Turkey, where Pope Leo appealed for dialogue amid regional tensions. His opening days as pontiff emphasized reconciliation, solidarity and support for Christian communities navigating political and social upheaval.
In Turkey, the pope marked the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea in İznik. At an ecumenical prayer service near the archaeological remains associated with the council, he gathered with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and other Christian leaders.
De Gance highlighted the significance of the commemoration. “Pope Leo chose to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea, which has such historic significance because this council helped define the reality — now still accepted by Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox — that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man.” He added, “At the time of the council, a great many Christians had begun to reject this central apostolic truth. This first council helped settle this controversy and is rightly celebrated today by those in the East and the West as creating greater unity within the entire church.”
Pope Leo XIV attends a ceremony marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, held in the ruins of Basilica of St. Neophytos, in Bursa, Turkey, on Nov. 28, 2025. (Baris Seckin/Anadolu via Getty Images)
During the ceremonies, Pope Leo emphasized the shared Christian heritage found in the Nicene Creed, a foundational statement of faith recited across denominations.
For many Lebanese Christians, his arrival offers a moment of recognition from Rome and a source of hope during a period of deep national uncertainty.
