Pope Leo XIV's first visit abroad, scheduled for Middle East

It would be a very symbolic visit for the first American pope, who has made repeated calls for peace in the Middle East and peaceful co-existence among faiths.

Archbishop Paul Sayah, deputy to Lebanon's Marchara Boutros al-Rai senior Catholic cleric of the country, told The Washington Post on Wednesday that he is aware that “Vatican is looking into and studying a visit by Pope Leo to Lebanon”.

“Patriarchana cannot publish information about the visit until the Vatican announces the date and details of the visit”, Sayah said.

Sayah spoke to The Post after Rai told Al Arabiya television on Wednesday that preparations were “in the process” for a visit by Leo that would take place by December.

Rai told the media that the Vatican had not yet confirmed a date. A decision must be made by the Vatican as to when the visit” will take place, he said.

The Vatican press office refused to comment on this news.

The first important trip across the area of Rome by his predecessor, Pope Francisescu, for example, was on the Italian island of Lampedusa in July 2013 to highlight the plight of migrants a topic that became a major theme of his papacy until his death in April.

Leo has made temporary trips beyond Rome, including a recent holiday at the summer papal residence of Castel Gandolfo, south of the city. But he hasn't gone far yet.

Vatican officials have acted on the assumption that he would fulfill his predecessor's desire to travel to Turkey later this year to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of Nike's First Concilia, a large assembly of early Christian bishops.

A trip to Turkey is still under way, a Vatican official said Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss details with the press; the official reviewed the possibility that Leo decides to visit the two majority Muslim countries.

Some Vatican observers have also been asked whether Leo could consider a visit to Israel.

Leo has called for peace in the Middle East and to end the war in Gaza in repeated presentations to his general audience with believers Wednesday.

He has also urged Christians, Jews, and Muslims to live together in peace

“Libani is the closest country to the terrible events in Gaza and the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict”, said Marco Polit, a Rome-based Vatican observer.

Going there would be a “way to expose the problem without directly engaging in a confrontation with the state of Israel”.

Both John Paul and Benedict XVI paid papal visits to Lebanon, leaving lasting memories that still echo with Lebanese Christians today. Francisco was scheduled to visit Lebanon in 2022, but the trip was never realised, something local Catholic officials blamed on security and power challenges in the country.