Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV receives Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Vatican.

RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “LEBANESE PRESIDENCY” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO —EDITORIAL USE ONLY— SHOTLIST: VATICAN CITY (AUGUST 20, 2026) (LEBANESE PRESIDENCY – RESTRICTED) 1. VARIOUS OF VATICAN APOSTOLIC PALACE 2. VARIOUS OF WELCOME CEREMONY FOR LEBANESE PRESIDENT JOSEPH AOUN 3. VARIOUS OF LEBANESE PRESIDENT JOSEPH AOUN ARRIVING AND BEING WELCOMED 4. VARIOUS OF LEBANESE PRESIDENT JOSEPH AOUN MEETING WITH POPE LEO XIV 5. VARIOUS OF GIFT PRESENTATION 6. LEBANESE PRESIDENT JOSEPH AOUN DEPARTINGVATICAN CITY - AUGUST 20, 2026: Pope Leo XIV received Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the Vatican on Thursday, August 20. Aoun's visit comes amid continued Israeli violations in Lebanon despite the signing of a framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv on June 26. The framework calls for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army there and the disarmament of armed groups, referring to Hezbollah. Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March 2 have killed 4,348 people and wounded 12,307 while displacing more than 1 million people and causing widespread destruction, according to Lebanese authorities. Israel continues to occupy areas of southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the previous war between 2023 and 2024. During the current offensive, Israeli forces advanced more than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) into Lebanese territory.