Pope Leo XIV goes to Lebanon in the first probable international trip

Pope Leo XIV is preparing to go to Lebanon later this year, in what could be his first trip abroad since he was elected head of the Catholic Church in May.

Archbishop Paul Sayah, assistant to the highest Catholic leader in Lebanon, told the BBC that the Vatican “studied” the journey but that the church was still waiting for official dates.

The visit would mark an important moment for the first American pope, who has repeatedly urged peace in the Middle East and interconfessional coexistence.

“Lebanon is a multicultural and multi-religious country and is a place of dialogue,” said Mgr Sayah.

“This is one of the rare environments where Muslims and Christians live together and respect each other … so he sends a message to the region.”

There was speculation on the first international destination of Leo, because the first papal trips often define the tone of a pontificate.

Pope Francis’ first major major trip outside Rome, to the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2013, prepared the field to focus on migration and marginalized communities.

In recent decades, trips abroad have become at the heart of the papacy, allowing the popes to connect with Catholics around the world, spread their message and engage in diplomacy.

During his 12 years as pontiff, Francis visited 68 countries during 47 trips abroad, often choosing destinations on the margins of the world, which he described as the “peripheries” of the Church.

Lebanon, which houses more than two million Catholics and known for its religious diversity, has long brought a symbolic weight for the Church. A papal judgment would also place Leo near the war in Gaza and the wider Israel-Palestine conflict.

“Everyone speaks to Israel but Israel does not listen to. Netanyahu does not seem to listen to a lot, but more (the leaders speak), the better,” said Archbishop Sayah.

“If the pope adds his voice and his concern, I think it probably has a certain impact.”

Pope Leo has already drawn attention to awareness efforts with other confessions.

One of his first meetings after his elections was with an interreligious delegation, where he praised the “Jewish roots of Christianity” and honored “the growing commitment to dialogue and fraternity” between Catholics and Muslims. He has repeatedly urged Christians, Jews and Muslims to “say no to war and yes to peace”.

If the trip takes place, he would follow the visits of John Paul II and Benoît XVI, both remembered messages of peace and religious coexistence.

Earlier this month, Pope Leo also marked the fifth anniversary of the Beirut port explosion, which killed 200 people and caused billions of damage.

“Beloved and suffering Lebanon remains at the center of our prayers,” he said.