Pope Leo plans to visit Lebanon, the country’s senior Catholic official announced, 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 towards 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 more than two million Catholics, according to Vatican statistics.
A Vatican spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Rai’s remarks.
A Vatican official, who asked not to be named, confirmed that a trip was being planned and said it could be part of a tour that would also include Turkey.