Analysts believe Pope Leo’s planned visit to Lebanon may serve as an indirect response to Israel’s war, as he continues pressing for an end to the bloodshed in Gaza.
Why has the Pope selected Lebanon as his first trip abroad?
Pope Leo XIV addresses the general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, August 20, 2025. / Reuters
3 hours ago
Pope Leo is preparing to travel to Lebanon, the country’s highest Catholic authority confirmed Wednesday, marking what could become his first journey outside Italy since assuming leadership of the Catholic Church.
The visit is expected to take place “before December,” Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi told al-Arabiya television.
Rahi, who heads the 3.5 million-strong Maronite Catholic Church, offered no exact date but said “arrangements are already in motion.”
A Lebanese government source familiar with the planning also confirmed that late-year dates were under discussion, though no final decision had been set.
The Vatican’s press office has not yet commented on Rahi’s announcement.
Another Vatican official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a Lebanon trip was indeed under preparation and could be combined with a short stop in Türkiye.
International travel has become a defining feature of modern papal leadership, with popes engaging local Catholic communities, promoting faith, and pursuing global diplomacy. Such visits often attract mass crowds.
Leo, the first pontiff from the United States, was chosen on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis. Francis had once intended to visit Lebanon himself but was prevented by health issues.
During his 12 years as pope, Francis embarked on 47 foreign trips across 68 nations. He often prioritized less-visible countries, seeking to draw attention to struggles in what he called the “margins” of the world.
A signal to Israel?
Leo has consistently appealed for peace in the Middle East and for an end to the Gaza war, repeating that message most recently during his Wednesday audience. He has also urged Christians, Jews, and Muslims to live together harmoniously.
“Lebanon is geographically closest to the catastrophic events in Gaza and to the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” The Washington Post quoted Vatican analyst Marco Politi as saying.
Lebanon hosts more than two million Catholics, according to Vatican figures.
Politi noted that the trip would allow Leo to spotlight the crisis “without engaging Israel in a direct confrontation,” the Post reported.
