Pope Leo to visit Lebanon by December, Cardinal confirms
Pope Leo is expected to make his first trip abroad as head of the Roman Catholic Church with a visit to Lebanon by the end of the year, the country’s most senior Catholic leader announced.
Cardinal Bechara Rai, Patriarch of the Maronite Church, said that preparations for the pope’s arrival are already underway, though he did not provide a specific date, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.
The visit, if confirmed, would mark Pope Leo’s first official journey outside Italy since his historic election on May 8. He succeeded the late Pope Francis, who had intended to visit Lebanon but was ultimately unable to do so due to health reasons.
"The pope will travel to Lebanon by December," Rai said. “Preparations are already underway.”
A Lebanese official familiar with the matter confirmed that discussions about the trip are ongoing, with a potential date set for late 2025, although nothing has been finalised.
A Vatican spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, a Vatican official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that a trip was being planned and suggested it could be part of a broader tour that includes Türkiye.
Lebanon, home to over two million Catholics according to Vatican statistics, holds significant historical and religious importance for the Church. Pope Francis, during his tenure, repeatedly expressed his concern for the country’s political and economic crises.
In a message earlier this month marking the fifth anniversary of the deadly Beirut port explosion, Pope Leo expressed solidarity with the Lebanese people. “Beloved and suffering Lebanon remains at the centre of our prayers,” he said.
Pope Leo, the first American to be elected pontiff, is also expected to visit Türkiye in late November to participate in events commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a seminal gathering in early Church history that took place in what is now the city of Iznik.
International travel has become a central part of the modern papacy, serving as a tool for diplomacy, pastoral outreach, and interfaith dialogue. Pope Francis made 47 international trips during his twelve-year papacy, visiting 68 countries—often prioritising those on the geopolitical and social margins of global attention.
If confirmed, Pope Leo’s visit to Lebanon would not only symbolize continued Vatican support for the country, but also set the tone for a globally engaged papacy in the post-Francis era.
By Vafa Guliyeva