Pope Leo XIV ended a visit to Turkey on Sunday and flew to Lebanon with a message of hope for its people and explicit support for the country’s Christian communities. In Turkey he emphasized peace and unity, both within the Catholic Church and among Christians more broadly.
In Istanbul the pope prayed at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and celebrated a divine liturgy with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual head of the world’s Orthodox Christians, who had invited him for an important anniversary. Processing into the Armenian cathedral amid incense and chanted hymns, Leo praised the “courageous Christian witness of the Armenian people throughout history, often amid tragic circumstances,” a restrained reference to the World War I–era slaughter of Armenians that remains a sensitive issue in Turkey. He also paused for a respectful moment of silence during a visit to the Ottoman-era Blue Mosque.
Leo’s stop in Lebanon comes as the small Mediterranean state continues to struggle with deep political, economic and social crises. The trip fulfills a promise by Pope Francis, who had planned to visit but was prevented by health concerns. Francis frequently invoked St. John Paul II’s characterization of Lebanon as more than a country — a “message” of fraternity and coexistence. Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system reserves the presidency for a Maronite Christian, the premiership for a Sunni Muslim and the speaker’s post for a Shiite; Christians account for roughly a third of the population in a Muslim-majority country.
The Vatican long has viewed Lebanon as a regional bastion for ancient Christian communities, many of which have shrunk amid conflict and economic hardship. Vatican officials say Leo is likely to urge Lebanese to stay or to consider returning if they emigrated, and to press local leaders toward greater accountability. “The Holy Father is coming at a very difficult moment for Lebanon and for our region,” said Bishop George, archbishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut, adding that the visit signals Lebanon has not been forgotten and could bring hope amid fears of renewed war with Israel.
Lebanon’s troubles include the 2019 financial collapse that wiped out savings and brought chronic shortages of electricity, fuel and medicine. The devastating Aug. 4, 2020 Beirut port explosion killed 218 people, wounded thousands and caused billions of dollars in damage; investigations have repeatedly stalled and no one has been convicted. On Dec. 2, the final day of his visit, Leo plans to spend time in silent prayer at the blast site and meet some victims — a gesture many hope will amplify calls for truth and justice.
The region’s security environment remains fragile. The Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel and the ensuing Gaza war increased tensions. Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant and political group, fought Israel in a conflict that escalated in September 2024, killing more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and causing widespread destruction. Although a U.S.-brokered ceasefire nominally ended that round of fighting two months later, Israel continues to carry out airstrikes aimed at preventing Hezbollah from rearming.
Lebanese reactions to the papal visit are mixed. “The pope is coming to bless us and for the sake of peace,” said Farah Saadeh, a Beirut resident. Hezbollah urged the pope to denounce what it called injustice and aggression against Lebanon, a likely reference to Israeli strikes, and asked supporters to line the papal motorcade route. Hezbollah maintains alliances with some Christian parties, including the Free Patriotic Movement and the Marada Movement, while the Lebanese Forces, the largest Christian parliamentary bloc, opposes Hezbollah and accuses it of dragging Lebanon into war.
Syria’s recent upheaval also shapes the atmosphere. After a yearlong offensive that reportedly ousted President Bashar Assad last December, the country has seen sectarian violence and attacks on minorities, including a June suicide bombing at a Damascus church. A delegation of roughly 300 Syrian Christians led by a Greek Melkite Catholic priest planned to come to Lebanon to participate in a youth meeting with the pope and to attend a public Mass on Beirut’s waterfront. “We are in need of someone like the pope to come and give us hope as Christians,” said 24-year-old Dima Awwad, adding that many Syrians also wish for a papal visit to their country.
Leo is expected to meet Lebanese youth during his stay, offering encouragement amid widespread disillusionment and ongoing emigration. Observers hope his words will acknowledge young people’s frustrations with failed leadership while inspiring them to invest in Lebanon’s future. For many Lebanese, the papal visit represents rare international attention and a potential moral lever to push political elites toward accountability and reform.