Aboard the papal plane returning to Rome after his visit to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV said he hoped his next foreign journey would be to Africa, ideally to Algeria, where he intends to “continue strengthening dialogue and building bridges between the Christian and Muslim worlds”.
Speaking to reporters from international outlets travelling with him, he commented on days of intense engagement in Turkey and Lebanon, and on wider challenges facing the Church, and global diplomacy.
Before answering questions, the Pope thanked the journalists who had covered the visit, telling them, “You too all deserve a big round of applause for this visit.” Over the next hour, he responded in English, Italian, and Spanish to questions touching on peace efforts, the Middle East, Europe’s tensions with Russia, and the Church’s internal life.
