Beirut
—
Pope Leo XIV touched down in Lebanon’s capital Beirut on Sunday as he began a three-day visit to the nation at the heart of a Middle East battered by recent conflicts.
The pontiff is due to meet political leaders and young people, take part in an inter-religious gathering and celebrate mass on the Beirut waterfront as part of the second leg of his first foreign trip since his election in May.
Leo is also expected to continue his calls for dialogue and unity at a time of heightened tensions in the region and just days after an Israeli strike on southern Beirut.
The strike, which targeted Hezbollah’s Chief of Staff, Haytham Ali Tabatabai,
