Pope Leo to visit Lebanon, cardinal says, in pontiff’s likely first trip abroad
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) — Pope Leo plans to visit Lebanon, the country’s senior Catholic official announced on Wednesday, in what could be the first visit outside Italy by the new leader of the global Church.
The pope will travel to Lebanon “by December,” Cardinal Bechara Rai told the al-Arabiya television channel.
Rai, leader of the 3.5-million-member Maronite Catholic Church, did not give a specific date for the visit but said “preparations are already underway.”
A Lebanese official familiar with the matter confirmed that discussions were being held about a visit toward the end of the year, though a date had not yet been finalized.
Leo, the first US pope, was elected by the world’s Catholic cardinals on May 8 to replace the late Pope Francis, who had planned to visit Lebanon but was unable to go because of health issues.
Lebanon is home to........
© The Times of Israel
