Vatican media has posted the schedule of the upcoming visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV's visit to Lebanon. This will mark the first trip undertaken by the Pope outside the Vatican.

 

This visit is definitely historic. It will help dress the wounds of Lebanon that has been going on for years, end the bleeding that wreaked havoc on every aspect of life, and give a promising hope for a future that reflects peace and progress.

 

Actually, the visit is of cardinal importance, as it will mark Lebanon's renaissance, and its emergence from the apocalyptic situation caused by the successive conflagrations that erupted over the past years, with hopes that this visit will shove Lebanon into an everlasting future marked by stability and a bright future.

 

This visit will,  furthermore, signal the Pope's endeavor to reiterate his appeals for peace and diplomacy in the Middle East, and to convey his concerns about the Christians who live there.

 

The schedule of the visit is busy, as upon arrival the Pope will hold separate meetings with the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly, and the Prime Minister of Lebanon. He will then give his customary address to Lebanese authorities, representatives of civil society, and members of the diplomatic corps.

 

Furthermore, he will visit the tomb of St. Charbel Maklouf at the Monastery of Saint Maroun in Annaya, and the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, where he will meet with bishops, priests, consecrated persons and pastoral workers, in addition to  private meetings with Catholic Patriarchs in the Apostolic Nunciature. He will then hold an ecumenical and interreligious meeting in Martyrs’ Square in Beirut, then meet with young people of Lebanon.

 

On the final day of his visit, namely Tuesday, 2 December, he will  visit staff members and patients of the De La Croix Hospital in Jal Ed Dib and have a silent prayer at the site of the Beirut Port explosion, which occurred in 2020.

 

The climax of the visit is the Holy Father's celebration of Holy Mass at the Beirut Waterfront, which is the final and major event of the journey to Lebanon.

 

As the Lebanese people awaited John Paul II in 1997 and Benedict XVI in 2012, the Land of Cedars is now looking forward to the arrival of Pope Leo XIV, who is scheduled to arrive on November 30 for his first apostolic visit as Pope. These people hinge great hopes that  this visit will provide an important opportunity to enhance Christian unity and to send a resounding message of peace throughout the Middle East.

 

The news of the papal visit overwhelms Lebanon with joy and enthusiasm as it is viewed as a reflection of his closeness to the country at this crucial time in its history. This apostolic journey of Pope Leo is of enormous significance as this small country has constantly been plagued by unrest, while playing a special historical, cultural, literary, artistic, and social role in the Middle East.

 

Father Raphael Zgheib, professor at the Saint Joseph University in Beirut and member of the ecumenical reflection group, told Fides Agency: "For the Lebanese, the Pope's visit comes at a time of collective exhaustion. Lebanon is trying to free itself from the abyss. It is necessary to renew John Paul II's call to 'lead this country to a path of prayer, penance, and conversion' that will enable Lebanese Christians to 'ask themselves before the Lord if they are faithful to the Gospel and truly committed to following Christ,' as stated in his Apostolic Exhortation 'A New Hope for Lebanon,' in order to 'build together the Body of Christ in the true spirit of the Church’.”

 

In the homily of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, during his visit to Lebanon on May 10-11, 1979, in Beirut, he recited the following prayer:

”Spirit of God, pour your light and your love into human hearts to achieve reconciliation between individuals, within families, between neighbors, in cities and villages, and within the institutions of civil society!

 

“Spirit of God, may your power reunite all the children of this land, that they may go forward together with courage and perseverance along the path of peace and friendliness, with mutual respect for people's dignity and freedom, for the full development of each individual and for the good of the whole country!

 

“Spirit of God, grant that Lebanese families may nurture the gifts of the grace of marriage! Grant that the young may form their characters with confidence and may become aware of their responsibilities in the Church and in the State!

 

“Spirit of God, grant that the Lebanese faithful may affirm the unity of each of the Patriarchal Churches, of the whole Catholic Church in Lebanon! Help them to take new steps along the path towards the full unity of those who have received the gift of faith in Christ the Savior!

 

“Spirit of God, You who are called Counselor, Living Source, Fire, Charity", show forth in this people the expected fruits of the Synodal Assembly! Spirit of light and love, be for the sons and daughters of Lebanon the source of strength, of spiritual strength, especially at this historic hour, on the threshold of the Third Millennium of Christianity!” Amen.

 

May this prayer be recited over and over, with hopes that the Almighty Lord would instill peace in the Middle East and in the world at large.

 

Pope Leo XIV, the Pope of Peace, your upcoming visit to Lebanon is a blessing to the entire Middle East, you are most welcome.