The Vatican has officially confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will make a three-day apostolic visit to Lebanon from November 30 to December 2, following an invitation from President Joseph Aoun and the country’s church authorities.

The trip, the pontiff’s first journey outside the Vatican since his election, comes immediately after his participation in Turkey for celebrations marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. Vatican sources told Nidaa al-Watan that Lebanon was chosen as the Pope’s first destination to reaffirm spiritual solidarity with a “suffering people” and to carry a message of peace to a country “struck repeatedly since the Beirut port explosion of August 4, 2020.”

A Vatican preparatory committee arrived in Beirut earlier this week to coordinate final arrangements with Lebanese authorities. The delegation has visited key religious and civic institutions, including Saint Maron Monastery in Annaya, to confirm the Pope’s visit to the monastery and the tomb of Saint Charbel on December 1.

Preparations also include a youth gathering in Bkerke, where young Lebanese will be able to ask questions directly to the Pope. Vatican officials have provided suggested texts, including Gospel readings and prayers, to guide the event, which will feature a 20-minute message from the pontiff addressed to Lebanon’s younger generation.

Local organizing committees, led by First Lady Naamat Aoun and Bishop Michel Aoun, are overseeing the coordination of logistics, security, and media coverage. Tele-Liban has been granted exclusive rights to broadcast the visit, with other local and international media outlets receiving a coordinated feed to ensure a unified presentation of the events.

Tentative Itinerary of Pope Leo XIV’s Visit to Lebanon (90% Confirmed)

• December 1: Visit to Saint Maron Monastery and the tomb of Saint Charbel in Annaya.

• Youth gathering in Bkerke: Featuring prayers, Gospel readings, and a direct dialogue with the Pope.

• Meeting with clergy at Our Lady of Lebanon Basilica in Harissa: Focused on strengthening church unity and supporting pastoral missions.

• Interfaith gathering in downtown Beirut: More than 40 Christian and Muslim religious leaders will attend, highlighting Lebanon’s historical role as a hub for dialogue and coexistence.

• Visit to Deir al-Salib Monastery and the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross: Recognizing the humanitarian work of the institution for people with mental health challenges.

• December 2: Open-air Mass in Beirut, likely on the city’s seafront, before the Pope departs for the Vatican.