28
Nov 2025
10:26 UTC
Lebanon Tactical: Pope Leo XIV slated to visit country on November 30-December 2; allot for disruptions
Current Situation:
- Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Lebanon from November 30 to December 2 as part of his first overseas tour.
November 30
- Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to arrive at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport at 15:45 (local time).
- He will meet with President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Presidential Palace at 16:45, followed by separate meetings with Speaker of the National Assembly Nabih Berri at 17:15 and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at 17:30.
- At 18:00, the Pope is expected to address a gathering of government authorities, civil society representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps.
- Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to arrive at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport at 15:45 (local time).
- He will meet with President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Presidential Palace at 16:45, followed by separate meetings with Speaker of the National Assembly Nabih Berri at 17:15 and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at 17:30.
- At 18:00, the Pope is expected to address a gathering of government authorities, civil society representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps.
December 1
- The Pope will conduct several prayer gatherings at various locations in Beirut and its outskirts.
- He will visit the Monastery of Saint Maroun in Aannaya at 09:45.
- At 11:20, he will hold a meeting with bishops, priests, and pastoral workers at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, followed by a meeting with Catholic patriarchs at the Apostolic Nunciature in Harissa at 12:30
- At 16:00, the Pope will lead a public interreligious gathering in Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square.
- At 17:45, he will hold a meeting in the square in front of the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch in Bkerki.
- The Pope will conduct several prayer gatherings at various locations in Beirut and its outskirts.
- He will visit the Monastery of Saint Maroun in Aannaya at 09:45.
- At 11:20, he will hold a meeting with bishops, priests, and pastoral workers at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, followed by a meeting with Catholic patriarchs at the Apostolic Nunciature in Harissa at 12:30
- At 16:00, the Pope will lead a public interreligious gathering in Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square.
- At 17:45, he will hold a meeting in the square in front of the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch in Bkerki.
December 2
- The Pope will visit the De La Croix hospital in Jal el Dib at 08:30.
- He will hold a silent prayer at the site of the Beirut Port explosion at 9:30 and attend a Holy Mass at the Beirut Waterfront at 10:30.
- At 12:45, a farewell ceremony for the Pope will be held at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport.
Source: The Vatican
- The Pope will visit the De La Croix hospital in Jal el Dib at 08:30.
- He will hold a silent prayer at the site of the Beirut Port explosion at 9:30 and attend a Holy Mass at the Beirut Waterfront at 10:30.
- At 12:45, a farewell ceremony for the Pope will be held at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport.
Source: The Vatican
Assessments & Forecast:
- The Pope’s visit to Lebanon follows his ongoing trip to Turkey and reflects the Vatican’s intention to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea while strengthening engagement between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
- FORECAST: Significant travel disruptions are expected both in Beirut and its outskirts included in the Pope’s itinerary. Authorities are likely to impose road closures along the Pope’s convoy routes, possibly at a short notice. Temporary restrictions on pedestrian movement are also anticipated near key visit locations, alongside crowd-management measures. Enhanced security screening at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport is possible and may result in delays to passenger services. A heightened security presence is expected throughout Beirut for the duration of the visit.
- The Pope’s visit also comes amid ongoing Israeli military operations targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, including a recent strike on a senior Hezbollah figure in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district on November 23. This has contributed to an elevated risk of escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in the coming days, with the group under pressure to respond. FORECAST: Israel is likely to refrain from additional strikes in Beirut or other areas during the Pope’s visit to avoid international condemnation. Given Hezbollah’s currently degraded capabilities, any retaliatory action is also expected to remain limited, reducing the likelihood of a renewed hostilities confrontation in the immediate term coinciding with the visit.
Recommendations:
- Those operating or residing in Lebanon on November 30-December 2 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance and allot for disruptions to travel due to Pope Leo XIV’s scheduled visit.
- Remain cognizant of authorities’ updates regarding road closures and other security measures that may be announced at short notice.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
High
AFFECTED AREA
Beirut; Lebanon
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
Low
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Confirmed
Current Situation:
- Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Lebanon from November 30 to December 2 as part of his first overseas tour.
November 30
- Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to arrive at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport at 15:45 (local time).
- He will meet with President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Presidential Palace at 16:45, followed by separate meetings with Speaker of the National Assembly Nabih Berri at 17:15 and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at 17:30.
- At 18:00, the Pope is expected to address a gathering of government authorities, civil society representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps.
- Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to arrive at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport at 15:45 (local time).
- He will meet with President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Presidential Palace at 16:45, followed by separate meetings with Speaker of the National Assembly Nabih Berri at 17:15 and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at 17:30.
- At 18:00, the Pope is expected to address a gathering of government authorities, civil society representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps.
December 1
- The Pope will conduct several prayer gatherings at various locations in Beirut and its outskirts.
- He will visit the Monastery of Saint Maroun in Aannaya at 09:45.
- At 11:20, he will hold a meeting with bishops, priests, and pastoral workers at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, followed by a meeting with Catholic patriarchs at the Apostolic Nunciature in Harissa at 12:30
- At 16:00, the Pope will lead a public interreligious gathering in Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square.
- At 17:45, he will hold a meeting in the square in front of the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch in Bkerki.
- The Pope will conduct several prayer gatherings at various locations in Beirut and its outskirts.
- He will visit the Monastery of Saint Maroun in Aannaya at 09:45.
- At 11:20, he will hold a meeting with bishops, priests, and pastoral workers at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, followed by a meeting with Catholic patriarchs at the Apostolic Nunciature in Harissa at 12:30
- At 16:00, the Pope will lead a public interreligious gathering in Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square.
- At 17:45, he will hold a meeting in the square in front of the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch in Bkerki.
December 2
- The Pope will visit the De La Croix hospital in Jal el Dib at 08:30.
- He will hold a silent prayer at the site of the Beirut Port explosion at 9:30 and attend a Holy Mass at the Beirut Waterfront at 10:30.
- At 12:45, a farewell ceremony for the Pope will be held at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport.
Source: The Vatican
- The Pope will visit the De La Croix hospital in Jal el Dib at 08:30.
- He will hold a silent prayer at the site of the Beirut Port explosion at 9:30 and attend a Holy Mass at the Beirut Waterfront at 10:30.
- At 12:45, a farewell ceremony for the Pope will be held at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport.
Source: The Vatican
Assessments & Forecast:
- The Pope’s visit to Lebanon follows his ongoing trip to Turkey and reflects the Vatican’s intention to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea while strengthening engagement between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
- FORECAST: Significant travel disruptions are expected both in Beirut and its outskirts included in the Pope’s itinerary. Authorities are likely to impose road closures along the Pope’s convoy routes, possibly at a short notice. Temporary restrictions on pedestrian movement are also anticipated near key visit locations, alongside crowd-management measures. Enhanced security screening at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport is possible and may result in delays to passenger services. A heightened security presence is expected throughout Beirut for the duration of the visit.
- The Pope’s visit also comes amid ongoing Israeli military operations targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, including a recent strike on a senior Hezbollah figure in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district on November 23. This has contributed to an elevated risk of escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in the coming days, with the group under pressure to respond. FORECAST: Israel is likely to refrain from additional strikes in Beirut or other areas during the Pope’s visit to avoid international condemnation. Given Hezbollah’s currently degraded capabilities, any retaliatory action is also expected to remain limited, reducing the likelihood of a renewed hostilities confrontation in the immediate term coinciding with the visit.
Recommendations:
- Those operating or residing in Lebanon on November 30-December 2 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance and allot for disruptions to travel due to Pope Leo XIV’s scheduled visit.
- Remain cognizant of authorities’ updates regarding road closures and other security measures that may be announced at short notice.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
High
AFFECTED AREA
Beirut; Lebanon
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
Low
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Confirmed
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Related Reports
Lebanon
-
ProtestLebanon Tactical: Protest slated in Beirut’s Riad al-Solh Square at 11:00 on December 4; allot for disruptions
-
TravelLebanon Tactical: Hezbollah to hold commemorative ceremony for slain Chief of Staff in Beirut on November 28; maintain heightened vigilance
-
TravelLebanon Tactical: Authorities announce traffic restrictions on airport tunnels in Beirut-Khaldeh route from evening hours of November 26; allot for disruptions
-
ProtestLebanon Tactical: Public contract teachers’ protest slated in Beirut at 10:30 on November 27; maintain heightened vigilance