A long-awaited journey... his first as Pontiff... a journey marked by profound hope and great faith. Following in the footsteps of his Predecessors, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV embarks on a pilgrimage of reconciliation and faith, first to Turkey and then to Lebanon.

Under the motto "Blessed Are the Peacemakers," the Land of the Cedars prepares to welcome the Holy Father, who comes as a messenger of peace to a land truly in need of it. He comes to a nation yearning for tranquility, stability, and security.

This pilgrimage has a strong Ecumenical character, and puts in its center interreligious dialogue and openness to all segments of society. His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will have a significant opportunity to connect with Christian communities and local populations of various faiths and denominations.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV's visit to Lebanon is more than just a visit... it is a prayer, a hope, a love, and a recognition of the dignity of every human on this Earth.

Many questions are being asked by the Lebanese today. What initiatives will His Holiness the Pope launch in Lebanon? What will be the impact of the visit on a people exhausted by crises? And what comes next?

Above all, the Pope will carry "a message of hope, because Lebanon needs hope." This is what the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said in an interview with the Vatican News Website, noting that Lebanon "has recently made some progress in resolving the crisis that has affected it in recent years..."

According to Parolin, the Pope's message will be encouraging and will express the Church's closeness to Lebanon: " Keep going, have courage, continue on the path you have begun."

Parolin noted that "The Holy See has always been attentive to Lebanon precisely because—‘it is a message more than a country,’ as Pope John Paul II said, in the sense that peaceful coexistence has been achieved among the various religions and ethnic groups, and this must continue."

He added, "The Holy See has always stood close for this very reason, and will continue to do so. I believe the Pope’s presence is meant above all to convey this message."

A message awaited by the Lebanese with great anticipation, joy, and positive expectations for a new phase filled with goodness and God's abundant blessings.

What is the Relationship between the Popes and the Lebanese people?

The relationship between the Popes and the Lebanese people is very old. Over the course of 27 years, there have been three visits to Lebanon by the "Successors of Peter": Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Leo XIV. This demonstrates the importance of Lebanon to the Popes and the Vatican, and its significance in the East. They know Lebanon, its people, and its Church in all its diversity, and how committed and in constant partnership it is to the Pope of Rome.

Perhaps during Pope Leo XIV's ministry in Latin America, a close relationship developed between him and the Lebanese diaspora there and in any position in Rome. But it is enough that he chose Beirut as his "first destination" after his election to the Papacy to express his love for Lebanon, its people, and Church.