Beirut, Dec 01 (V7N)- Pope Leo XIV, the supreme spiritual leader of the Christian faith, has arrived in Lebanon, the center of rising regional tensions, as part of his ongoing Middle East tour, the BBC reported on Monday.

Upon landing in Beirut, he received both a state reception and an enthusiastic public welcome. Flower petals were showered on him, and despite the heavy rain, Lebanese citizens greeted him with music and traditional dance, creating a rare and emotional scene of unity and celebration.

Prior to arriving in Lebanon, the Pope attended a joint mass prayer with leaders of the Catholic and Orthodox churches in Istanbul. During his visit to Türkiye, he also toured the historic Blue Mosque and held meetings with religious leaders. He held discussions on various political matters with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other national leaders.

Speaking to reporters while traveling from Türkiye to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to resolving the long-standing Israel–Palestine conflict.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Erdoğan praised the Pope for his outspoken advocacy for Palestinian rights during his visit to Türkiye.

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