Beirut is preparing for massive crowds on Tuesday, Dec. 2, when Pope Leo will lead a public mass at the Beirut Waterfront at 10:30 am.

These are the detailed plans for road closures, shuttles, and on-site services to handle what could be more than 150,000 attendees.

Road closures

Closures roll out in three stages starting Monday, Dec. 1.

Stage 1 – Dec. 1, Monday evening:

The entire Beirut Waterfront area is closed to vehicles and pedestrians.

Stage 2 – Dec. 2, Tuesday 12 am (midnight):

Stores, restaurants, and cafes near the Port entrance, Saifi, Annahar, Bab Idriss, Fakhreddine Street, and the Saint George Hotel will shut for the event.

Stage 3 – Dec. 2, Tuesday 4 am:

Closures extend to areas near the Emigrants’ Statue, Gemmayzeh Street, the Frères School, Burj al-Ghazal, the Ring Bridge, Murr Tower, Holiday Inn and Abdel Nasser Mosque.

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To help crowds arrive, the highway from the Port of Beirut to Fouad Chehab Stadium in Jounieh will be closed from 7:30 to 9:30 am on Dec. 2.

The part from Jal al-Dib to Fouad Shehab Stadium reopens starting 9:00 am.

Drivers not attending the mass will be diverted at Nahr al-Kalb bridge and from the coastal road toward Burj Hammoud.

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Shuttles to and from the mass

Buses will use a color-coded sticker system showing each bus’s region and villages:

• North: yellow
• Kesrouan: purple
• Batroun and Jbeil: pink
• Metn: blue
• Beirut: green
• South and Chouf: orange
• Bekaa and Upper Chouf: red

Martyrs’ Square will serve as the drop-off point for clergy.

Shuttles to mass

• Kesrouan: Beirut Port parking lot near the fish market
• North: Parking lot behind City Mall, Dora
• Chouf and Bekaa: Emile Lahoud highway parking (in front of the Ministry of Energy)
• Jbeil and Batroun: Beirut Forum parking lot
• Beirut: Horse racetrack parking lot
• South: Sports City Stadium parking lot
• Metn: Souk al-Ahad, Corniche of the river

Shuttles from mass to drop off points for:

• Kesrouan: Chafic Wazzan Avenue
• North: Banks Street to Riad Solh Square
• Chouf and Bekaa: Westbound Chafic Wazzan Avenue
• Jbeil and Batroun: Road from Bechara al-Khoury to the Armenian church, down to Martyrs’ Square
• Beirut: Martyrs’ Square toward Bechara al-Khoury
• South: Saint George Hotel, Place de l’Étoile and Ain al-Mreisseh
• Metn: Georges Haddad Street

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What to expect on the day

As of publishing this, there is still space for you to register to attend the mass, and it’s free. The site issues a QR code that must be shown at the entrance and to board the shuttles.

Attendees are asked to arrive between 5:00 am and 8:30 am; buses will then take people to the mass and their assigned section. No entry after 9 am.

Pope Leo is scheduled to arrive at 10:00 am, passing through the crowd before the mass begins at 10:30 am.

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Rules and Regulations

• Mass is outdoors – bring umbrellas or raincoats if needed
• Modest & respectful dress code
• Arrive early for security and logistics measures
• Food not allowed inside – except biscuits & dry sandwiches for those taking medications. Water stations are available
• No professional videocams will be allowed
• No smoking or vapes (will be confiscated at the doors)
• When the mass ends, you’ll need to remain at your location until the pope leaves (~40 minutes)
• Departure operation will take several hours as many people are expected
• Each ticket has a designated zone, based on a first-come first-serve basis. You will not be allowed to change zones.

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