US EditionPope wraps up Turkey visit and heads to Beirut to try to give Lebanese hope after years of crises
Pope Leo XIV aims to bolster Lebanon’s Christian community amid economic collapse and recent war, fulfilling Pope Francis’ promise with key events including a blast-site prayer on Dec. 2.
- On Sunday, November 30, 2025, Pope Leo XIV wrapped up a four-day trip to Turkey and is expected to leave Istanbul at 1145 GMT to fly to Beirut for a visit until Tuesday.
- After 2019's financial collapse and the 2020 blast, Lebanon faced currency and banking collapse that evaporated savings and drove shortages of electricity, fuel and medicine.
- Leading liturgies and ceremonies, Pope Leo XIV prayed at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, celebrated a divine liturgy with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, and they signed a joint declaration pledging `new and courageous steps on the path towards unity`.
- Pope Leo XIV aims to encourage Lebanese Christians to stay or return and will meet young Lebanese before praying at the Aug. 4, 2020 blast site on Dec. 2.
- As a first major test for the new pope, the trip highlights Lebanon, population 5.8 million, where shrinking Christian communities and Hezbollah's political ties intensify tensions.
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After Turkey visit, Pope heads to Beirut to offer hope to Lebanese
Pope Leo XIV ended his visit to Turkey on Sunday and flew to Lebanon, arriving at a moment of profound uncertainty to deliver a message of hope to a nation beleaguered by years of crisis and to shore up one of the Middle East’s most fragile Christian communities.
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By NICOLE WINFIELD and ABBY SEWELL ESTAMBUL, Turkey (AP) — Pope Leo XIV concluded his visit to Turkey on Sunday before heading to Lebanon, where he hoped to bring a message of hope to a long-suffering people and strengthen a crucial Christian community in the Middle East. Leon had two key appointments in Istanbul before flying to Beirut: a prayer in the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and a divine liturgy with the ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew, …
Patriarch Bartholomew: 'Christians are not accomplices of blood in Ukraine'. Last day of Prevost in Turkey, in the early afternoon will fly to Lebanon (ANSA)
Associated Press News
Pope wraps up Turkey visit and heads to Beirut to try to give Lebanese hope after years of crises
Pope Leo XIV is wrapping up his visit to Turkey before heading to Lebanon. Leo had two key appointments in Istanbul on Sunday before flying to Beirut: a prayer at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and divine liturgy with the ecumenical patriarch.
After his visit to Turkey, Pope Leo XIV travels to Lebanon on Sunday. After arriving in the afternoon, he meets President Joseph Aoun and head of government Nawaf Salam. On Monday, an inter-religious meeting and meeting with young people is planned. On Tuesday, the last day of his visit, the Pope wants to celebrate an open-air mass with more than 120,000 believers.In Lebanon, more than a third of the population acknowledges the Christian faith, …
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