\u2018Peace is possible,\u2019 Pope Leo XIV says after visits to Turkey and Lebanon Pope Leo XIV on Sunday said his apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon showed that \u201cpeace is possible,\u201d pointing to renewed steps toward Christian unity and powerful encounters with the Lebanese people still seeking justice after the 2020 Beirut port explosion. Speaking after the Angelus to pilgrims gathered in St Peter\u2019s Square on Dec. 7, the pope recalled praying in \u0130znik, ancient Nicea, with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox bishops, and representatives of other Christian communities on the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. Marking Sunday\u2019s 60th anniversary of the Common Declaration between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, Leo said, \u201cWe give thanks to God and renew our dedication to journeying towards the full visible unity of all Christians.\u201d In Lebanon, the pope said he encountered a \u201cmosaic of coexistence\u201d and met people who serve the most vulnerable by welcoming refugees, visiting the imprisoned, and sharing food with those in need. He was especially moved by meeting relatives of the victims of the Beirut port blast. \u201cThe Lebanese people were waiting for a word and a presence of consolation, but it was they who comforted me with their faith and their enthusiasm,\u201d he said. The pope also expressed closeness to communities in South and Southeast Asia struck by recent natural disasters, praying for victims and urging international solidarity. Earlier, in his Advent catechesis before the Angelus, Pope Leo reflected on John the Baptist\u2019s call to prepare the way of the Lord. John\u2019s severe tone, he said, still resonates because it carries God\u2019s \u201cplea to take life seriously\u201d and to ready the heart for the God who judges \u201cnot by appearance, but by deeds and intentions.\u201d The pope said the Kingdom manifests itself gently, in the meekness and mercy of Christ described by Isaiah as a shoot rising from a seemingly dead tree trunk. He linked this surprising newness to the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, which closed 60 years ago and continues to guide the Church on its journey toward unity and renewal. \u201cThis is the spirituality of Advent, very luminous and concrete,\u201d he said. \u201cThe streetlights remind us that each of us can be a little light, if we welcome Jesus, the shoot of a new world.\u201d This article was originally published by CNA. Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today EWTN Vatican on WhatsApp CNA Staff Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter. More news related to this article Brazilian Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo dies at age 89 Pope Francis has emotional meeting with African migrant who lost his wife and daughter Statue of Korea\u2019s patron saint to be permanently installed at St. Peter\u2019s Basilica The Forgotten Souls of South Sudan Pope Francis gives a glimpse into Vatican-China deal on appointment of Chinese bishops Pope Francis: The commandments should not be confined to formal observance, but lived out with love<\/p>\n