In a notable departure from the Vatican’s traditional Italian, the Pope will address audiences exclusively in English in Turkey, and in a combination of English and French in Lebanon, using these languages to articulate a broader message of peace across the Middle East.

Security measures are expected to be exceptionally tight, particularly in the wake of an Israeli strike targeting Hezbollah in Beirut just days before the pontiff’s arrival. This journey holds added poignancy, as it covers destinations the late Pope Francis had intended to visit himself before his health deteriorated.

Lebanon and Turkey are frequent pope destinations

Both Turkey and Lebanon have received multiple popes, starting with Pope Paul VI, the first pontiff to travel internationally, in a sign of their importance to the Holy See.