Pope Leo XIV

Speaking to national civil authorities and members of the diplomatic corps in Beirut Nov. 30, the pope said peace in Lebanon “is a desire and a vocation; it is a gift and a work in progress.”

The pope said he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the current conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza during their private meeting on Thursday.

On his last day in Turkey, Pope Leo XIV urged Christian leaders to work together to promote unity, care for creation, and promote a responsible use of new technologies amid their rapid development.