pope leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV Praises Sisters of the Cross During Visit to Jal el-Dib Convent Hospital

Pope Leo XIV paid tribute Tuesday morning to the Sisters of the Cross during a visit to their convent hospital in Jal el-Dib, thanking them for “the joy, light, and compassion” they offer daily. He lauded their century-old mission, founded by Abouna (father) Yaacoub, as a “living witness to Christ’s love for the poor and those who are ...

The Pope at the Port: Victims Speak

For them, the Pope’s visit is not just another event. His stop at the port rekindles a powerful hope: that justice might finally return, and that the deep wounds of August 4 may begin to heal. That day, they lost a brother, a sister, an eye… a part of themselves. Today, through this visit, they are searching for a way to find it ...

Day Two: Pope Leo XIV Highlights Peace, Unity and Solidarity

On the second day of his visit to Lebanon on Monday, Pope Leo XIV met with bishops, clergy, religious communities, and pastoral workers at the Our Lady of Lebanon Shrine in Harissa, where he delivered an address focused on his trip’s theme: “Blessed are the peacemakers.” The Pope praised the Lebanese Church’s role in sustaining hope amid ...

Pope Reiterates Support for Two-State Solution for Israel and Palestinians

Pope Leo XIV said Sunday that a two-state solution was the only one likely to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Flying from Istanbul to Beirut during his first foreign trip since his election in May, the pope continued the tradition of his predecessors by speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane. "The Holy See has ...

“Pontiff”: from Bridge Keeper to Head of the Church

Pope Leo XIV’s arrival to Beirut for a three-day apostolic visit offers the perfect opportunity to revisit a word that spans the religious and political history of the West: pontiff. Now reserved for the head of the Catholic Church, it is inherited from a far older – and originally non-Christian – function. Roman Origins: The Pontifex The ...

After Call for Christian Unity, Pope Leaves Turkey for Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV headed to Lebanon on Sunday with a message of peace for the crisis-hit nation after wrapping up a four-day trip to Turkey's tiny Christian community that focused on unity within the Church. Ending the first part of his maiden overseas tour since being elected leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, Leo boarded the papal ...

Leo XIV in Lebanon: A Rich and Symbolic Program

Lebanon welcomes Pope Leo XIV for his first apostolic visit since his election. Described by the Vatican as “a message of peace and resilience,” this visit comes at a time when the country continues to face severe economic, political, and social challenges. Over the course of three days, November 30 to December 2, the program ...

The Pope in Lebanon: A Dual State–Apostolic Visit

As he arrives in Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV will undertake a unique visit that brings together two complementary dimensions: a state visit and an apostolic visit. This dual status reflects the two identities of the pontiff, head of state of Vatican City and spiritual leader of the Catholic Church.  

Pope Visits Istanbul's Blue Mosque

Pope Leo XIV visited Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque early on Saturday on the third day of his trip to Turkey. It was the first time the American pope, elected in May as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, visited a Muslim place of worship since taking over from his late predecessor Francis. The Blue Mosque is one of Istanbul's main ...

Bkerké, When Youth Awaits the Pope

Day and night, Bkerké pulses with the energy of young people. Hundreds are preparing for a historic encounter. On December 1, 12,000 of them will gather on the esplanade to welcome the Pope. Between faith, commitment, and hope, these young voices explain why this moment goes beyond an event and speaks to their future.

Pope Leo XIV and Bartholomew Mark 1,700 Years Since Nicaea in Turkey

Pope Leo XIV will join the leader of the world's Orthodox Christians Friday to celebrate 1,700 years since one of the early Church's most important gatherings, on the second day of his visit to Turkey. The American pope began his four-day visit on Thursday in Ankara, where he urged President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to embrace Turkey's role as a ...

Pope Urges Turkey to Embrace Mediator Role on First Overseas Trip

Pope Leo XIV began a four-day visit to Turkey on Thursday, urging Ankara to embrace its role as a mediator in a world gripped by conflict, he said after talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "Mr President, may Turkey be a source of stability and rapprochement between peoples, in service of a just and lasting peace," he said in the capital as ...