pope leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Turkey on First Foreign Mission of His Papacy

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Turkey on Thursday for a four-day visit, where he will hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and meet Christian leaders on the first overseas trip of his papacy. The trip, which includes a second leg to Lebanon, begins in the Turkish capital, Ankara, where the first American pope landed shortly after ...

Papal Visit: Routes and Security Measures

The official commission in charge of organizing Pope Leo XIV’s visit held a press briefing on Tuesday to inform citizens and the media about the planned logistical, security-related and media arrangements. It also detailed the routes that the papal convoy will follow during the three-day visit to Lebanon (November 30-December 2). The conference ...

The Sisters of the Cross Hospital at the Heart of the Papal Visit

For the first time, a pope will visit the Sisters of the Cross Hospital in Jal el-Dib. Pope Leo XIV has chosen to include this center in his visit to Lebanon, scheduled from November 30 to December 2. It is a choice that highlights a unique institution – a hospital that welcomes, supports, and protects people suffering from mental and ...

Papal Visit Funding: Where Does Lebanon Stand?

With less than two weeks to go before Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lebanon at the end of the month, preparations have entered their final stage. Roger Zaccar, head of the visit’s financial committee, told This is Beirut that nearly 80% of the required funds have already been secured, with the remaining 20% are still needed to complete the ...

Pope Urges Leaders Not to Leave Poor Behind

Pope Leo XIV decried poverty on Sunday, urging world leaders and Catholics to reach out to marginalized people, as the Church celebrated a "Jubilee of the Poor." The pope has made social justice a key theme of his papacy, now in its sixth month since he was made head of the world's Catholics in May following the death of Pope Francis. The ...

Pope Leo XIV Shares His Favorite Films Ahead of Vatican Hollywood Audience

Pope Leo XIV has revealed his four favorite films ahead of a special audience with Hollywood celebrities and Oscar-winning directors at the Vatican. Leo, the first pope from the United States, picked tearjerkers, including Frank Capra's classic 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life with James Stewart, in which an angel is sent from heaven to help a ...

King Charles, Pope Leo Pray Together in Historic First

King Charles III, the head of the Church of England, became the first British monarch Thursday to pray publicly with a pope in a Vatican service led by Leo XIV. The ceremony in the Sistine Chapel, broadcast live by the Vatican's official news service, came during a state visit by the 76-year-old monarch and his wife, Queen Camilla. It was the ...

Honoring a Historic Visit: Lebanon Commemorates Pope Leo XIV with a Stamp

Ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lebanon, scheduled for November 30 to December 2, 2025, the Ministry of Telecommunications has confirmed to This is Beirut that the country will issue a special stamp commemorating the pontifical visit. According to Ministry sources, this official release has been entrusted to LibanPost, which will oversee its ...

Ignatius Maloyan, Martyr of the Armenian Genocide, to Be Canonized This Sunday in Rome

Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan, a prominent figure of faith and martyrdom during the Armenian Genocide, will be canonized this Sunday at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by Pope Leo XIV. The ceremony will be attended by official delegations from Lebanon, including President Joseph Aoun and Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, alongside representatives from ...

Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace Ahead of Trip to Turkey and Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV marked the second anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel by urging an end to hatred and renewed dialogue for peace in the Middle East. Speaking in Castel Gandolfo, he reflected on the toll of the ongoing conflict, noting that “around 67,000 Palestinians have been killed” since the 2023 assault that killed 1,200 ...