Following an official farewell ceremony at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport on Tuesday, Pope Leo XIV concluded his six-day Apostolic Journey to Türkiye and Lebanon, emphasizing a vision of fraternity and peace for the entire region.

“We hope to involve the entire Middle East in this spirit of fraternity and commitment to peace, including those who currently consider themselves enemies,” the Pope said, bringing his visit to a close.

The pontiff arrived at the airport coming from Beirut Waterfront, where he held a mass in honor of the victims of the Beirut Port explosion. 

Reflecting on his last three days in Lebanon, he highlighted the country’s rich spiritual heritage and the resilience of its people, noting the deep veneration for the Blessed Virgin Mary shared by both Christians and Muslims. Pope Leo recalled his visit to the tomb of Saint Charbel, observing that Lebanon’s history offers guidance and sustenance for the journey toward a peaceful future.

He hailed Lebanon's resilience and strength "as the cedars that populate your beautiful mountains" and praised Lebanon's beauty "as beautiful as the olive trees that grow in the plains in the South and near the sea."

Pope Leo XIV calls for end to hostilities 

He also addressed the country’s ongoing challenges and expressed solidarity with victims of the Beirut port explosion. “I carry with me the pain, and the thirst for truth and justice, of so many families, of an entire country,” he said, extending his greetings to all regions of Lebanon, including those he could not visit: “Tripoli and the north, the Bekaa, and the south of the country, which is currently experiencing a state of conflict and uncertainty.”

Calling for an end to hostilities, he stressed, “We must recognize that armed struggle brings no benefit. While weapons are lethal, negotiation, mediation, and dialogue are constructive. Let us all choose peace as a way, not just as a goal!”

Invoking the words of Saint John Paul II, Pope Leo added, “Lebanon is more than a country; it is a message! Let us learn to work together and hope together, so that this may become a reality.”

Pope Leo XIV visits De la Croix Hospital 

On the first stop of today's activities, the Pope arrived at the De la Croix Hospital in Jal al-Dib, north of Beirut, on Tuesday morning, where he met with hospital staff and patients before leading a prayer. In his remarks, he highlighted that the hospital was founded by Father Jacques out of his care for the vulnerable and the sick, encouraging the hospital’s staff to continue their mission, which he described as “a great work in the eyes of God.”

The Vatican describes the hospital as one of the largest mental health hospitals in the Middle East, with five large wards for patients.

In his address, the Pope expressed his happiness at being able to visit the hospital and shared the reason for his visit. “I wanted to come because Jesus dwells in this place: in you who are ill, and in you who care for the ailing, the sisters, the doctors, all the healthcare workers and staff.” He also assured everyone present that they were in his prayers.

Pope Leo XIV reflects on charity, the Good Samaritan

Reflecting on the hospital’s origins, Pope Leo recalled Fr. Jacques as a tireless advocate of charity, “who is remembered for the holiness of life that he showed especially through his love for the poorest and the suffering," highlighting that Fr. Jacques founded the Franciscan Sisters of the Cross, who continue his work in caring for patients. The Pope expressed his gratitude to the sisters and the entire hospital staff for their dedication, emphasizing that they are “a tangible sign of the merciful love of Christ.”

Drawing a parallel with the Good Samaritan, Pope Leo noted that the staff tend to the wounded and encouraged them to maintain the joy of their mission, even amid fatigue or discouragement, “especially given the challenging conditions” in which they often serve. Despite these challenges, he urged them to “keep before your eyes the good you are able to accomplish,” describing their work as a great act in God’s eyes.

The Pope further stressed that the work carried out at the hospital “stands as a clear reminder to all, to your country, but also to the whole human family.” He highlighted the importance of not forgetting the most vulnerable, noting that society cannot truly progress while clinging to illusions of well-being and ignoring the realities of poverty and fragility. “Particularly as Christians, as the Church of the Lord Jesus, we are called to care for the poor,” he said, underlining that this responsibility is a central message of the Gospel for everyone.

In closing, the Pope reminded those present that they remain close to God’s heart. “He holds you in the palm of His hand; He accompanies you with love; and He offers you His tenderness through the hands and smiles of those who care for you.”

Pope Leo XIV prays at the Beirut blast site

Afterward, the Pope headed to Beirut to visit the Beirut Blast site, where he met with the victims' families before presiding over a Mass at the Beirut Waterfront, with thousands of Lebanese people in attendance.

As the Mass began, Patriarch Youssef Absi, Greek Melkite Patriarch of Antioch, noted that the majority of Lebanon’s Catholics belong to the Eastern Churches, thanking Pope Leo XIV for his attention to Eastern-rite Catholics and for bringing a message of joy and peace to the country.

In his homily, the Pope expressed gratitude for the warm welcome he had received, praising God for the opportunity to visit Lebanon. Acknowledging the daily hardships many people face, he emphasized that Christians must always nurture an attitude of praise and gratitude.

Pope Leo reflected on Lebanon’s beauty, celebrated in Sacred Scripture, but lamented that it has been “overshadowed by poverty and suffering, the wounds that have marked your history.” He further noted, “The beauty of your country is also overshadowed by the many problems that afflict you, the fragile and often unstable political context, the dramatic economic crisis that weighs heavily upon you, and the violence and conflicts that have reawakened ancient fears.”

Easy for disillusionment to overshadow gratitude

Amid these challenges, he said, it is easy for disillusionment to overshadow gratitude and for uncertainty to diminish hope. “The word of the Lord, however, invites us to find the small shining lights in the heart of the night, both to open ourselves to gratitude and to spur us on to a common commitment for the sake of this land,” he said.

The Pope highlighted that Jesus gives thanks not for extraordinary works, but for revealing himself to “the little ones and the humble,” recalling Prophet Isaiah’s description of the Kingdom of God as “a small branch sprouting from a trunk,” a small sign of hope that promises renewal amid adversity. “It is also an indication for us, so that we may have eyes capable of recognizing the smallness of the shoot that emerges and grows even in the midst of a painful period,” he added.

Even now, Pope Leo said, small lights are beginning to shine in Lebanon’s darkness, particularly in the Lebanese people’s “sincere and genuine faith, rooted in your families and nourished by Christian schools.” He pointed to the Church’s many parishes and movements that address both material and spiritual needs and to the numerous priests and consecrated religious carrying out charitable works and spreading the Gospel throughout Lebanese society.

Pope Leo XIV: Lebanon, stand up!

At the same time, he stressed that gratitude should not be inward-looking or self-serving. Rather, it must inspire action and the practice of hope and charity. “We are all called to cultivate these shoots, to not be discouraged, to not give in to the logic of violence and the idolatry of money, and to not resign ourselves in the face of the spreading evil,” the Pope said.

He urged the people of Lebanon to do their part in restoring the country’s former glory. “Disarming our hearts is the only way to do this,” he said, adding, “Let us cast off the armor of our ethnic and political divisions, open our religious confessions to mutual encounter, and reawaken in our hearts the dream of a united Lebanon, where peace and justice reign, and where all recognize each other as brothers and sisters.”

In conclusion, Pope Leo encouraged Lebanese citizens to nurture the dream that God has placed in their hands, praying that they may endure suffering and persevere in hope. “Lebanon, stand up!” he concluded. “Be a home of justice and fraternity! Be a prophetic sign of peace for the whole of the Levant!”

Pope Leo XIV arrives in Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Beirut on Sunday evening, where he was welcomed by senior Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun, who accompanied him to the Presidential Palace in Baabda for the first stop of his visit. During this meeting, the Pope also met with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

According to the #Vatican’s official website, Pope Leo XIV’s first Apostolic Journey to Lebanon includes a full day of remembrance and public prayer.

The Pope began his morning in Jal el Dib–Bkenneya with a visit to the staff and patients of De La Croix Hospital.

His second… pic.twitter.com/T7D5Y5jy1f

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 2, 2025

The following day, Pope Leo led a morning Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa and presided over an evening interfaith dialogue, attended by the spiritual leaders of Lebanon’s religious communities and numerous clergy members.

Pope Leo XIV and his accompanying delegation are scheduled to depart for the Vatican around 1:00 pm local time, concluding his first foreign trip since assuming the papacy, which included visits to both Turkey and Lebanon.