But perhaps the real test of Leo\u2019s international debut lies in Lebanon. His coming fulfills a promise to visit the country made by his boldly charismatic predecessor Pope Francis<\/a>, who raised the papacy\u2019s international profile with dozens visits abroad and a propensity for frankness in his commentary that endeared him to the faithful, especially in the Middle East.<\/a><\/p>\n But Christians \u2014 estimated to be about 30% of Lebanon\u2019s population \u2014 are not the only ones looking forward to Leo\u2019s arrival. <\/p>\n A view of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, which Pope Leo XIV will see during his visit to Turkey, which begins Nov. 27, 2025.<\/p>\n (Arif Hudaverdi Yaman \/ Anadolu \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n Many here hope his visit will be a portent for peace, bringing attention to this tiny Mediterranean nation as it contends with a Job-like succession of crises: First the economy, which crashed in 2019, tanking the banking system and the currency with it; then the port explosion in 2020; and the war between the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah and Israel, which flared in 2023 before intensifying late last year and left thousands dead and wide swaths of Lebanon\u2019s south and east pulverized.<\/p>\n Despite a ceasefire brokered last November, Israel has launched near-daily attacks on its northern neighbor, justifying its strikes as a bid to stop Hezbollah from reconstituting itself, even as the United Nations tallied more than 10,000 air and ground violations in Lebanese territory and 127 civilians killed in the year since the ceasefire took effect. <\/p>\n Israel\u2019s attacks have also paralyzed reconstruction efforts, meaning most residents of Lebanese border towns \u2014 whether dominated by Christians, Muslims or Druze \u2014 have been unable to piece back their prewar lives. The U.N.\u2019s human rights office says around 64,000 Lebanese remain displaced.<\/p>\n The Israeli army launched more than 10 airstrikes on the town of al-Musaylih in southern Lebanon, causing extensive damage, on Oct. 11. <\/p>\n (Houssam Shbaro\/Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Safety concerns for the pope have been paramount in people\u2019s minds for months. In October, in what appeared to be a hot mic moment, Jordan\u2019s Queen Rania asked the pope during a photo-op at the Vatican whether it was safe to go to Lebanon. \u201cWell, we\u2019re going,\u201d Leo gruffly replied.<\/p>\n Alarms were raised again over the weekend when Israel bombed Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs<\/a>, barely two miles away from where the pope would be landing on Sunday. The attack, the first one in months near the capital, killed Hezbollah\u2019s most senior military commander and coincided with a general uptick in Israeli strikes and drone activity in recent weeks \u2014 all indicators, observers say, of an impending all-out assault.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, the trip is still on, Lebanese officials say.<\/p>\n For Oumayma Farah, development director of the Order of Malta Lebanon, which aids communities of all religions and nationalities through humanitarian projects, that\u2019s a \u201csign of courage and resilience to the Lebanese population and Christians in the region as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever happens, the pope will come,\u201d Farah said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Church teaches us to not be afraid, so he\u2019s the first example.\u201d<\/p>\n A woman walks her dog past a billboard in Beirut touting Pope Leo\u2019s upcoming visit to Lebanon.<\/p>\n (Anwar Amro \/ AFP\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Like most of the countries where Christianity first took hold, wars and economic lethargy \u2014 not to mention a relatively easier path to emigration \u2014 have dwindled Lebanon\u2019s Christian population over the decades. <\/p>\n Across the Middle East, the number of Christians has gone from 20% of the population to a mere 5%; Lebanon remains the Arab country with the highest proportion, with Christians making up about 30% of the population, according to estimates from various research groups and the U.S. State Department<\/a>.<\/p>\n The pope\u2019s insistence on coming to Lebanon, Farah said, was \u201cre-centering the importance of this country\u201d and a \u201cwake-up call\u201d for its politicians. After spending three days in Turkey, the pope will arrive in Lebanon on Sunday and depart Tuesday.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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