Pope says he will visit Lebanon after historic Iraq trip

Nation is suffering from its worst economic crisis

Pope Francis gestures as he boards a plane to depart for Rome, at Baghdad International Airport in Baghdad. Reuters

Cardinals and ranking Catholic clergymen board the Alitalia Airbus A330 aircraft as Pope Francis bids farewell to other bishops and Iraq's President Barham Saleh and his wife Sarbagh before departing from the Iraqi capital's Baghdad International. AFP

Iraq's President Barham Saleh and his wife Sarbagh escort Pope Francis during the farewell ceremony for the pontiff at the Iraqi capital's Baghdad International Airport. AFP

Pope Francis meets Abdullah Kurdi, father of little Alan, who was shipwrecked with his brother and mother on the Turkish coast in September 2015 while he was trying to reach Europe with his family, at the end of a Mass in the Erbil Stadium. EPA

Nuns cheer and dance at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, Iraq. Getty Images

A baby dressed in papal outfit during a mass with Pope Francis at the Erbil Stadium. EPA

Nuns take a selfie after the completion of a mass conducted by Pope Francis. Getty Images

People carry umbrellas as they celebrate after a mass led by Pope Francis at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, Iraq. Reuters

Pope Francis conducts mass at the Franso Hariri Stadium. Getty Images

Monks pray during a mass conducted by Pope Francis at the Franso Hariri Stadium. Getty Images

Pope Francis blesses a statue of the Virgin Mary at a mass at the Franso Hariri Stadium. EPA

Pope Francis walks with an incense censer as he leads mass at the Franso Hariri Stadium. AFP

Pope Francis blesses people as he arrives in the popemobile vehicle at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil. AFP

Pope Francis arrives on the popemobile to celebrate Mass at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil. AP Photo

Nuns wave flags of Iraq, Kurdistan, and the Holy See as they wait for the arrival of Pope Francis at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil. AFP

A faithful waits for Pope Francis to hold Mass at Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil. Reuters

Pope Francis blessing people as he arrives in the popemobile vehicle at the Franso Hariri Stadium. AFP

Young women dressed in traditional Kurdish clothing wave flags of the Holy See as they wait for the arrival of Pope Francis at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil. AFP

Pope Francis arrives to hold a mass at the Grand Immaculate Church, in Qaraqosh. Reuters

Pope Francis is greeted by people as he arrives at the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (al-Tahira-l-Kubra), in the predominantly Christian town of Qaraqosh. AFP

Pope Francis arrives at a meeting with local residents at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Qaraqosh. AP Photo

Pope Francis visits the town before holding a mass at the Grand Immaculate Church, in Qaraqosh. Reuters

Pope Francis releases a white dove during a prayer for war victims at 'Hosh al-Bieaa', Church Square, in Mosul's Old City. Reuters

Pope Francis rides in a golf cart at the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP

A nun kisses the hand of Pope Francis during a prayer for war victims at 'Hosh al-Bieaa', Church Square, in Mosul's Old City. Reuters

Pope Francis arrives to pray for war victims at 'Hosh al-Bieaa', Church Square, in Mosul's old city. Reuters

Pope Francis attends a prayer for the victims of the war at Church Square, Mosul. EPA

Pope Francis and the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Masud Barzani viewing a gift sculpture of a Chaldean cross during their meeting in Arbil, the capital of Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region. AFP

Pope Francis meeting with the President of the autonomous Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani, the Prime Minister of the 9th cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government Mansour Barzani, and the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Masud Barzani in Arbil. AFP

Pope Francis greets Iraqis dressed in traditional outfits upon his arrival at Erbil airport, in the capital of the northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region. AFP

Pope Francis walks with Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of Kurdistan region, and President of the Kurdistan region in Iraq Nechirvan Barzani, upon his arrival at Erbil International Airport. Reuters

Iraqi women dressed in traditional outfits hold palm leafs as they welcome Pope Francis upon his arrival at Erbil airport. AFP

Mansour Barzani, Prime Minister of the 9th cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government looks on , as Pope Francis greets religious dignitaries at the Erbil airport. AFP

Pope Francis arrives at Erbil International Airport in Iraq. Reuters

Pope Francis is welcomed at Erbil International Airport in Erbil. Reuters

Pope Francis greets people as he leave the Chaldean Cathedral of Saint Joseph. Getty Images

Pope Francis leads mass at Baghdad's Saint Joseph Cathedral. AFP

Iraqi Christian worshippers attend the mass led by the Pope at Baghdad's Saint Joseph Cathedral. AFP

Pope Francis greeted by children upon his arrival for a mass at Baghdad's Saint Joseph Cathedral. AFP

Pope Francis blesses the congregation as he leads mass at Baghdad's Saint Joseph Cathedral. AFP

Pope Francis arrives to lead mass at Baghdad's Saint Joseph Cathedral. AFP

Pope Francis is greeted by children upon his arrival at Baghdad's Saint Joseph Cathedral. AFP

People take pictures with their mobiles upon the arrival of Pope Francis. Reuters

Pope Francis speaks to Iraqi religious figures during an interfaith service at the House of Abraham in the ancient city of Ur in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province. EPA

Pope Francis speaks to Iraqi religious figures during an interfaith service at the House of Abraham in the ancient city of Ur. EPA

Pope Francis speaks to Iraqi religious figures during an interfaith service at the House of Abraham in the ancient city of Ur. EPA

Pope Francis is seen behind flowers at an interfaith service at the House of Abraham in the ancient city of Ur. EPA

Pope Francis smiles and waves at a women that threw a kiss to him. Haider Husseini/ The National

People attend an inter-religious ceremony in Ur near Nassiriya. Reuters

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani meeting with Pope Francis and his delegation, at his home in the holy city of Najaf. AFP

Pope Francis, accompanied by clerics, and Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, meet in Najaf. Courtesy of the Vatican

Pope Francis's meeting with Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, in Najaf, followed months of negotiations between Najaf and the Vatican. Reuters

Pope Francis smiles with Iraq's prime minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi on arrival at Baghdad airport. Handout from the office of the Prime Minister of Iraq

The Pope visits Our Lady of Salvation Church. Courtesy of the Prime Minister office

Pope Francis is welcomed upon his arrival at the Our Lady of Salvation Church. AP Photo

Pope Francis speaks in the Our Lady of Salvation Church. AFP

Pope Francis greets people in front of the the Our Lady of Salvation Church. AFP

Nuns welcome Pope Francis at the Our Lady of Salvation Church. AFP

Iraq's President Barham Salih speaks with Pope Francis during a welcoming ceremony at the Presidental Palace in Baghdad. Reuters

Iraqi President Barham Salih welcomes Pope Francis at the Presidential Palace. AFP

Pope Francis walk with Iraq's prime minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi on arrival at Baghdad airport. Handout from the office of the Prime Minister of Iraq

Pope Francis talks with Iraq's prime minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi on arrival in Baghdad. Handout from the office of the Prime Minister of Iraq

Pope Francis walks with Iraq's prime minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi on arrival at Baghdad airport. Handout from the office of the Prime Minister of Iraq

Pope Francis walks alongside Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi upon his arrival in Baghdad. AFP

Pope Francis waves to the crowd upon his arrival in Baghdad. Reuters

Pope Francis speaks to journalists aboard the plane heading to Iraq. AP Photo

Pope Francis waves as he boards the plane for his visit to Iraq, at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy. Reuters

People holding Iraqi and Vatican flags as they wait for the arrival of Pope Francis, at Baghdad Airport Road, in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters

A Christian woman holds the Vatican flag as she heads to the airport to wait for the arrival of Pope Francis, in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters

Pope Francis said he is to visit crisis-hit Lebanon. He made the announcement only hours after taking off from Baghdad following a hugely successful trip to Iraq.

The pontiff told reporters on a flight to Rome: "Lebanon is in crisis ... but it has the strength of people.”

The visit of Pope Francis to Iraq, which was aimed at encouraging Christians to stay in the country, was a first.

Lebanon, where roughly one-third of the country is Christian, hosted Pope Benedict for three days in 2012.

The country is suffering from its worst economic crisis. Sporadic protests and roadblocks have occurred in the past week after the local currency hit a historic low at 10,000 Lebanese pounds to the dollar.

Last August, a massive explosion at Beirut’s port killed over 200 people, increasing public anger against the country’s leaders.

An advisor to Lebanese Maronite cardinal Beshara Raï told The National that no date had been set yet for the pontiff's visit but that it comes after the cardinal invited Pope Francis to visit Lebanon during a private audience at the Vatican on November 28.

During their meeting, Cardinal Raï, a harsh critic of his country’s political elite, briefed Pope Francis on Lebanon’s economic and social difficulties.

Speaking on Monday, Pope Francis confirmed Cardinal Rai had asked him to add a Beirut leg onto his Iraq trip but that he had declined, thinking it would be like tossing the country “crumbs,” given all Lebanon’s current problems.

“But I wrote him a letter and promised I’d go to Lebanon," he added.

In his Christmas messages Pope Francis promised to visit Lebanon "as soon as possible."

He said that he was “deeply troubled to see the suffering and anguish that has sapped the native resilience and resourcefulness of the Land of the Cedars."

Pope Francis expressed solidarity with the Lebanese people, especially its youth. “Sharing as I do your joys as well as your sorrows, I feel deeply the gravity of your loss, especially when I think of the many young people robbed of any hope for a better future,” he wrote.