President Joseph Aoun was received by Pope Leo XIV on June 13, 2025, at the Vatican. Photo taken from the X LBpresidency page.
BEIRUT — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun was received Friday at 10 a.m. (11 a.m. Lebanese time) by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, where he has been on an official visit since Thursday with his wife Neemat.
According to a statement published by the presidency, Aoun extended an official invitation to the pontiff to visit Lebanon. "I assured him that the Lebanese people intensely aspire to his blessed visit, which will serve as a message of peace and hope for the region, a glimmer at the end of the tunnel of crises," Aoun announced at the end of the visit. He added that the invitation was met with a "positive reaction" and "affection" from the pope.
Aoun arrived Thursday at the Ciampino military base, on the outskirts of Rome, accompanied by his wife, "for both an official and family visit to the Vatican," according to the presidency's statement. He had already visited Rome in May to attend the inauguration mass of the new pope, during which he spoke with Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
In his statement, President Aoun indicated that he had reaffirmed to Leo XIV "the solidity of relations between Lebanon and the Vatican," reminding him that "Lebanon remains committed to its unique mission" in a troubled region, which "is to be a land of dialogue between civilizations, an oasis of freedom of worship and cultural pluralism."
He also added that he "was reassured" by the pope who told him that he remains "alongside Lebannon and its people" of all communities, and that he was working to fulfill the "aspirations of the Lebanese for a safe, stable country, an oasis of hope, joy and peace."
According to the Lebanese presidency, the head of state was received by the Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, following his meeting with the pope.
The visit by the head of state comes as massive Israeli attacks are being conducted against nuclear installations in Iran.