Pope Leo XIV Ends First Trip with Lebanon Peace Appeals

Pope Leo XIV concluded his first international trip as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, with appeals for peace in Lebanon and dialogue between the United States and Venezuela, as he returned to Rome from visits to Turkey and Lebanon.

The 70-year-old American pontiff, born in Chicago and a former missionary in Peru, arrived in Lebanon on Sunday after a stop in Turkey. His three-day stay in the Middle Eastern nation, marked by economic hardship, the aftermath of a 2020 port explosion and lingering conflict with Israel, drew large crowds and interfaith participation. Lebanon has faced severe challenges, including a currency devaluation of over 98 percent since 2019, the August 4, 2020, detonation of ammonium nitrate at the Beirut port that killed 218 people and injured thousands, and a 2023 war between Israel and Hezbollah that ended in a November 2024 ceasefire. Israel maintains a presence in southern Lebanon and conducts airstrikes to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding, with no reported incidents during the pope's visit.

On Tuesday, Leo began his final day with an emotional visit to De La Croix Hospital in Beirut, a facility for patients...