20
Aug 2026
Thu
Thursday 20 August 2026 — Audience with the President of Lebanon and message for the Day of Creation
🤝 Audience
Audience with President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon
📍 Apostolic Palace, Vatican City
In the morning Pope Leo XIV receives in audience H.E. Mr. Joseph Aoun, President of the Republic of Lebanon, on his third visit to the Vatican since taking office in January 2025. The President then meets with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, in the presence of Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. The talks focus mainly on the "Trilateral Framework Agreement" signed by the United States, Israel and Lebanon, aimed at stabilizing Lebanon's southern border and achieving a just and lasting peace: the Holy See expresses appreciation for the signing of the document, while voicing serious concerns about the difficulties encountered in implementing it, and assures its support for ongoing efforts, also in view of the expiry, on December 31, 2026, of the UNIFIL mission's mandate. The private meeting between the Pope and President Aoun lasts about half an hour; at the end of the audience, the Lebanese President gives the Holy Father a wooden reliquary depicting the face of Maronite Patriarch Elias Hoyek next to a cedar of Lebanon, beatified last July in Diman.
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📋 Daily schedule
The message of Pope Leo XIV, dated August 15, 2026, is released for the 11th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, celebrated on September 1, 2026, titled after Isaiah 2:4: "They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks." The Holy Father notes how the Gospel promise of peace contrasts with a reality marked by armed conflict and environmental degradation, highlighting the link between war and ecological destruction, which compromises vital resources and food security for generations. He points to "conversion of heart" — more than structural change alone — as the way to build peace through truth, dialogue, justice and love, inviting all to imagine a world in which the energy now devoted to war is redirected toward integral human development and reconciliation.
🗓️ Upcoming events
2026-08-22
🏛️ Visit to San Marino and the Rimini Meeting
State visit to the Republic of San Marino, then visit to the Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples and Holy Mass for the Diocese of Rimini.
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2026-08-29
⛵ Mass and procession at Castel Gandolfo for the Madonna del Lago
Holy Mass in the Church of Maria Santissima del Lago and procession, for the traditional Marian feast at the end of August.
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2026-09-05
🌿 First anniversary of the Borgo Laudato Si'
The first anniversary of the inauguration of the center for the care of creation at Castel Gandolfo, opened by Pope Leo XIV on September 5, 2025.
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2026-09-07
🕯️ Mass at Genazzano for the eve of the Nativity of Mary
The Pope celebrates Holy Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel, on the eve of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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2026-09-14
📚 Opening of the "Catastrophe and Wonder" exhibition at the Vatican Library
The Pope visits the Vatican Apostolic Library and opens the "Catastrophe and Wonder" exhibition series.
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2026-09-25
✈️ Departure for the apostolic journey to France
From September 25 to 28 the Pope visits Paris (Élysée, UNESCO, Notre-Dame), Lourdes and Metz.
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2026-10-07
📖 Meeting on the tenth anniversary of Amoris Laetitia
Meeting in the Vatican (October 7-14) convened by the Pope with heads of Eastern Churches, presidents of Episcopal Conferences and some families.
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2026-10-27
🕊️ Assisi for the 40th anniversary of the Spirit of Assisi
Interreligious meeting in Assisi for the 40th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace called by John Paul II.
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2026-11-06
✈️ Departure for the apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru
From November 6 to 17 the Pope visits Montevideo, Buenos Aires and Lima, with a special stop in Chiclayo, his former diocese.
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🔗 Official sources
📋
Bollettino Sala Stampa
press.vatican.va
📰
Vatican News
vaticannews.va
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Calendario 2026
vatican.va
📷
Vatican Media Foto
photo.vaticanmedia.va
▶
Video e dirette
YouTube · Vatican News IT
📜
Osservatore Romano
osservatoreromano.va