Pope Leo
His stop in Lebanon places him in a country where Christians have long faced war, instability and a wave of emigration that has reshaped the country’s demographics.
Lebanon was once a Christian-majority country, a balance reflected in the 1932 census, which recorded Christians as just over half the population. No official census has been conducted since then, but demographic studies and independent estimates show a significant shift over the past century. As Reuters reported, Christians are now believed to “make up about a third of Lebanon’s population,” a decline driven by emigration, conflict and changing birth rates.
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Pope Leo (Dilara Senkaya/Reuters/Pool)
Lebanon marks the most emotionally charged part of the trip. The last papal visit took place in 2012. Pope Francis had hoped to travel there, but was unable to make the trip due to health problems. Lebanon is often said to have the highest percentage of Christians in the Middle East, yet these communities have been devastated by economic collapse, political paralysis and mass migration over the past decade.
Pope Leo Pope Leo XIV makes his first trip abroad during 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 program includes meetings with political leaders, Christian and Muslim clergy, and families affected by overlapping national crises. A key moment comes on December 2, when he visits the port of Beirut, the site of the 2020 explosion that killed more than 200 people and injured thousands. His presence there is expected to draw significant attention in a country where many still claim responsibility for the blast.
Local media report that large crowds are expected despite deep infrastructure problems and ongoing security concerns.
The pope arrives at one of Lebanon’s most volatile periods in years, with repeated firefights along the southern border in 2024 and 2025 between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. The clashes displaced residents and raised fears of a wider conflict, raising questions about whether the situation could force last-minute changes to the papal itinerary.
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A billboard depicting Pope Leo XIV, ahead of his planned visit to Lebanon, on the main airport road in Beirut, November 21, 2025. (Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni raised these concerns in comments to EWTN Vatican and confirmed that the schedule remains intact. “There is no specific concern regarding the recent Israeli attack,” Bruni said. He added that “the situation was known even a few months ago and all necessary precautions have been taken.”
De Gance said the Lebanon leg underlines 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 large number of 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 that are often overlooked. “Leo likely wants to bring the pulpit of the papacy to the region to deliver a message of peace that also advocates for those often forgotten in the West – our Eastern Christian brothers and sisters.”
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Posters of Pope Leo (Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)
The themes emerging in Lebanon mirror those in Turkey, where Pope Leo called for dialogue amid regional tensions. His opening days as pope emphasized reconciliation, solidarity and support for Christian communities enduring political and social unrest.
In Turkey, the Pope celebrated the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea in İznik. During an ecumenical prayer service near the archaeological remains related to the council, he gathered with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and other Christian leaders.
De Gance emphasized the importance of the commemoration. “Pope Leo chose to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which has such historical significance because it helped define the reality – 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 large number of Christians began to reject this central apostolic truth. This first council helped resolve this controversy and is rightly celebrated today by those in the East and West as creating greater unity within the entire Church.”
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Pope Leo (Baris Seckin/Anadolu via Getty Images)
During the ceremonies, Pope Leo emphasized the shared Christian heritage found in the Nicene Creed, a fundamental statement of faith expressed across all denominations.
For many Lebanese Christians, his arrival is a moment of recognition from Rome and a source of hope in a period of deep national uncertainty.
