Pope Leo XIV arrived in Lebanon on Sunday, carrying a message of peace and solidarity for the nation reeling from profound economic collapse, the lingering aftereffects of the devastating 2020 Beirut port blast, and a recent war between Israel and Hezbollah.

The pontiff’s 48-hour stopover in the religiously diverse country marks the highly anticipated second leg of his first overseas tour since his election as the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics in May.

Upon his descent into Beirut, Pope Leo XIV’s plane was escorted by two Lebanese military aircraft, signaling the high importance placed on the visit by the host nation. He was met at the airport by top officials, including President Joseph Aoun, the Arab world’s only Christian head of state.

Lebanon rolled out a formal welcome, featuring a red carpet, a 21-gun salute, a brass band, and children greeting him, while ships in the nearby port sounded their horns in welcome. The warm reception in Lebanon stands in contrast to the less visible attention his visit drew in Turkey, the Muslim-majority nation where he kicked off his tour.

Speaking to journalists aboard the papal plane, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the “special theme” of his visit to the two nations: “being a messenger of peace, of wanting to promote peace throughout the region.”

The Pope’s presence was viewed not just through a Christian lens, but as a source of national comfort. Zahra Nahleh, 19, from the war-ravaged south of Lebanon, expressed the widespread sentiment while waiting along the airport road: “I came to say that the Lebanese are one people and we are united. The pope is not just for Christians but for Muslims too, and we love him a lot.”

Lebanon, long celebrated as a model of religious coexistence, has been destabilized by successive crises since 2019. The recent conflict largely ended with a ceasefire last November, yet Israel has continued regular raids, usually asserting that it is targeting Hezbollah positions.

The pontiff’s political engagements included scheduled talks with President Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and parliament speaker Nabih Berri at the presidential palace. He was also slated to deliver a major address to authorities and diplomats.

Even the political and sectarian landscape of Beirut showed anticipation for the visit; youth scouting groups affiliated with Hezbollah waited along the road in the organization’s southern suburbs stronghold to welcome the Pope.

Posters of slain Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah were seen near billboards extending greetings to the pontiff. On Saturday, Hezbollah had publicly called on the Pope to use his visit to denounce Israeli “injustice and aggression” against Lebanon.

Christians play a constitutionally key political role in Lebanon, holding the presidency which is reserved for a Maronite Christian. However, the Christian population has seen its numbers dwindle due to economic hardship and increasing emigration.

Pope Leo XIV’s visit the first papal visit since Benedict XVI in 2012 is thus seen as a crucial moment of spiritual and diplomatic support for the country’s diverse communities struggling under immense pressure.