WHEELING — American-born Pope Leo XIV visited Lebanon this week, and the move touched the heart of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church members in Wheeling.

It marked the first foreign trip for Leo XIV, who also made a stop in Turkey. Since 1967, a Pope has visited the Lebanese region fewer than four times, according to Monsignor Bakhos Chidiac — who is a native of Lebanon.

“He came with a clear message — don’t leave Lebanon,” Chidiac said of the Pope. “He was amazed by the beauty. He told them to be rooted in their country.”

The Catholic faith needs them to remain and grow in areas where they are a minority, Chidiac explained.

The pope, while in Turkey, visited the site of the first Ecumenical Council of Nicea on the occasion of its 1700th anniversary, Chidiac reported. He did

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