Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Lebanon for Second Leg of Debut Trip, Visiting Beirut Blast Site

Pope Leo XIV landed in Lebanon on Sunday, beginning the second half of the first international trip of his pontificate. He arrived after three days in Turkey, where the themes were unity, peace and renewed ties among Christian communities.

Lebanon is a different kind of stop. Christians there have lived through war, instability and a wave of emigration that has changed the country's makeup. The 1932 census recorded them as just over half the population. No official count has been taken since, but demographic studies and independent estimates point to a large shift. Reuters, as cited in the coverage, says Christians are now believed to make up roughly a third of Lebanon's people, a decline attributed to emigration, conflict and changing birth rates.

JP De Gance, founder and president of Communio, told Fox News Digital the choice of Turkey and Lebanon was deliberate. He said the pope likely wanted to underline two themes of his pontificate, unity and peace. He added that Lebanon was probably included because many Christian communities, both those in communion with Rome and Eastern Orthodox ones, are suffering in a war-torn region. In his words, Leo wants to bring the papacy's bully pulpit to the region and speak for Eastern Christians who are often forgotten in the West.

The last papal visit to Lebanon was in 2012. Pope Francis had hoped to go but could not because of health concerns. Lebanon is often described as having the highest proportion of Christians in the Middle East, yet those communities have been hit hard over the past decade by economic collapse, political paralysis and mass migration.

The Associated Press reported that Leo's schedule includes meetings with political leaders, Christian and Muslim clerics, and families affected by the country's overlapping crises. On Dec. 2 he is due at the Port of Beirut, where the 2020 explosion killed more than 200 people and wounded thousands. His presence is expected to draw strong attention in a country where many still demand accountability for the blast. Local media report that large crowds are expected despite deep infrastructure problems and ongoing security challenges.

The visit comes in one of Lebanon's more volatile periods in years. Hezbollah and Israeli forces exchanged fire repeatedly along the southern border through 2024 and 2025, displacing residents and raising fears of a wider conflict. That prompted questions about whether the itinerary might change at the last minute. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told EWTN Vatican the schedule remains intact. He said there is no specific concern related to the recent Israeli strike, that the situation was already well known months ago, and that all necessary precautions have been taken.

In Turkey, Leo marked the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea in İznik. At an ecumenical prayer service near the archaeological remains associated with the council, he joined Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and other Christian leaders. He stressed the shared heritage of the Nicene Creed, recited across denominations. De Gance said the council helped settle a dispute over the belief that Jesus is truly God and truly man, a conclusion still accepted by Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox.

For many Lebanese Christians, the arrival offers recognition from Rome during a period of deep national uncertainty. What to watch next is the Dec. 2 stop at the port, and whether the Vatican's assurance about the itinerary holds amid the tension on the southern border.