Pope Leo XIV at the inaugural mass of his pontificate, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on May 18, 2025. (Photo Alberto PIZZOLI /AFP/Getty Images)
BEIRUT — Pope Leo XIV will be visiting Lebanon from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, the Holy See confirmed in an official announcement released Tuesday afternoon.
The visit, according to the statement, comes "in response to the invitation of His Excellency the President of the Republic and the Lebanese ecclesiastical authorities." Mention of the pope's visit was first made in September.
"The program of the apostolic visit will be announced in due course," the message adds.
AFP reported that the 70-year-old American pope's Lebanon visit will be preceded by three days spent in Iznik, a historic district also known by its ancient name, Nicaea, in northwestern Turkey, where he will attend the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a major event in the history of Christianity.
This will be the first paper trip abroad for Robert Francis Prevost who is the first American to hold the position.
Aoun welcomes the news
President Joseph Aoun welcomed "on behalf of all Lebanese" the Holy See's announcement "with firm faith and deep gratitude," calling this visit "a major milestone in the history of the deep ties that unite Lebanon with the Holy See and which embodies the constant trust that the Vatican places in Lebanon's role as a message and a homeland."
"This visit, which comes at the beginning of his pontificate, is not a mere protocol step, but an important historical moment that reaffirms that Lebanon, despite its wounds, remains present at the heart of the universal Church and in the conscience of the world, a space of freedom, a land of coexistence, and a unique humanitarian message that embraces heaven and challenges the conscience of humanity."
"All Lebanese, Christians and Muslims, of all faiths and communities, are preparing now to welcome the Pope with sincere joy and a national unity that is rare, but which reflects the true image of Lebanon," Aoun said.
"We see in this a renewed call for peace, for the consolidation of the authentic Christian presence in this region, and for the preservation of the Lebanese model, necessary for both the world and the region."
Berri calls it a 'historic visit'
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri also welcomed the Pope's visit, according to comments reported by former Minister Wadih al-Khazen, with whom he met in Ain al-Tineh on Tuesday.
The Shiite Amal Movement leader reportedly called the pope's Lebanon trip a "historic visit" that " constitutes a new ray of hope for the Lebanese in these times marked by multiple crises and trials" told Khazen that he hoped that it would bring "goodness, peace, and hope" to the country, which "more than ever" needs signs of encouragement to remain united.
According to Khazen, Berri had indicated that he would be joining Aoun, a Maronite Christian, in welcoming the pope at the airport, as would be Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who is Sunni. This trio would, Berri said, "reflect true national unity and the Lebanese people's concern for the continuity and stability of their country."
"The best tribute Lebanon could pay to the pope during this visit would be the full implementation of U.N. Resolution 1701 [which ended the 2006 war] before his arrival," Berri said, "so that the Israeli army withdraws from the Lebanese lands still occupied in the South and ceases its daily violations and repeated bombardments targeting innocent civilians."
Israel still occupies six positions it considers "strategic" in southern Lebanon and bombards the country almost daily despite the cease-fire in effect since the end of November 2025. It has killed over 310 people in Lebanon since the truce.
