America's first pope visits Lebanon during crisis, meeting Christian and Muslim leaders to encourage coexistence in the conflict-torn Middle East.

The Diocese of Corpus Christi announced today that Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Mario Alberto Avilés, C.O. as the ninth Bishop of Corpus Christi, succeeding Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey who has led the diocese since 2010.

The ITA Airways flight accompanying Pope Leo on his first international Apostolic Journey was forced to make an urgent safety repair over the weekend. The Airbus was a part of the more than 6,000 aircrafts requiring a software update.

During the Mass, Leo urged Turkey’s small Catholic community to forge “bonds of unity” with other Christians and people of other faiths as an invitation to become peacemakers.

The best way to describe him is as the anti-polarization pope. His biggest issues are peace and unity. He knows he’s operating in a context where very few world leaders are talking that way. It’s not a collaborative world. He’s looking at a polarized landscape and responding to it.

Pope Leo XIV met Lebanese youth in the square in front of the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch in Bkerké on the second day of his apostolic visit to Lebanon.

Pope Leo XIV’s visits holy sites in Lebanon on Monday that draw Christian and Muslims as he seeks to recognize the importance of the country's religious pluralism and also send a message to Christians not to abandon the region.