Aug. 21 (UPI) — Pope Leo XIV is expected to travel to Lebanon before the end of the year on his first international trip.
Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church, said in an interview that Leo would visit Lebanon “sometime between now and December.”
“The visit will happen after a decision from the Vatican about when it will take place, so until now it’s not yet determined. But preparations for the visit are underway, though the exact timing is still unknown, waiting for the Vatican to announce it,” Rai said.
There has been no official announcement from the Vatican about the international trip yet
Archbishop Paul Sayah, deputy to Lebanon’s highest-ranking Catholic leader, told BBC that a trip to Lebanon would be an important visit for the pope.
“Lebanon is a multicultural, multi-religious country and is a place of dialogue,” Sayah said. “It’s one of the rare environments where Muslims and Christians are living together and respecting each other so it sends a message to the region.”
Throughout recent decades, popes have been conducting overseas travels to connect with Catholics worldwide.
Pope Francis during his 12 years, visited 68 countries on 47 foreign trips.
Francis had formerly expressed his desire to visit Lebanon, but the country’s political and economic crisis complicated the planning.
Lebanon is home to more than two million Catholics and has carried symbolic weight for the Church.