Pope Leo XIV speaks during a meeting with Lebanon's president at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of the capital Beirut. AFP
Flying from Istanbul to Beirut during his first foreign trip since his election in May, the pope continued the tradition of his predecessors by speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane.
"The Holy See has publicly backed the proposal for a two-state solution for several years. We all know that Israel still does not accept it, but we consider it the only solution likely to resolve the current conflict," he said during a brief exchange.
He said he discussed the issue on Thursday in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan "who fully supports this proposal".
"Turkey has an important role to play in this process," the pontiff added.
The Holy See has recognised the State of Palestine since 2015.
Since his election in May, the pope has expressed solidarity with Gaza, calling it a "martyred land," and condemned the forced displacement of Palestinians amid Israel's ongoing war on the strip.
On Sunday, he said the Vatican maintained "friendly" relations with Israel and had offered its services as a mediator.
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