Pope Leo was in Lebanon on Sunday night, the second stop on his inaugural foreign trip. On his plane he made a surprise appearance for the foreign press and said the creation of a Palestinian state was “the only solution” to resolve the decades‑long Israeli‑Palestinian conflict. He told reporters the Vatican continues to act as a mediating force and is pushing for a solution that brings justice for everyone.
Leo’s visit comes as Lebanon faces renewed violence linked to clashes between Israel and the Iran‑backed group Hezbollah. Israel has been striking targets in the south of the country and has also carried out attacks in Beirut. A week earlier, Israeli forces killed a top commander of the Iran‑backed group in Beirut — an event that has heightened tensions in the city where the pope arrived.
Local residents and officials have expressed concern that strikes could escalate further while Leo is in the country and afterward, as Israel has discussed the possibility of increasing military action. For now, the pope said the Vatican is focused on promoting mediation and justice for all parties affected by the region’s conflicts.
Chris Livesay reported from Beirut for CBS News; Jericka Duncan contributed reporting.
