Pope Leo’s historic outreach—journey to Türkiye and Lebanon sets the tone for a Catholic-led mission of unity and peace
In a landmark step for his new pontificate, Pope Leo XIV will embark on his first foreign apostolic journey from 27 November to 2 December 2025, travelling to Türkiye and Lebanon. The visit carries profound significance: it marks the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, underscores the Catholic Church’s commitment to ecumenical dialogue, and offers a message of solidarity with Christian communities in the Middle East, according to Vatican News.
Türkiye: Between Ankara, Istanbul and İznik
The pontiff’s itinerary begins in the Turkish capital of Ankara on 27 November. He will meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and address civil-society representatives and members of the diplomatic corps. Later that day he will fly to Istanbul, opening a deeper segment of his mission.
On 28 November, Pope Leo will meet bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated women and men, and pastoral workers in Istanbul’s Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. Then he will visit a nursing home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. In a poignant ecumenical gesture, he will fly by helicopter to modern İznik (ancient Nicaea) to participate in a prayer service near the archaeological remains of the Basilica of Saint Neophytos, commemorating the council that gave us the Creed “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
On 29 November, the Pope will visit Istanbul’s famed Sultan Ahmed Mosque (the “Blue Mosque”), meeting later with Christian-community leaders at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem. In the afternoon the Pontiff will join a Doxology at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George, meet with Bartholomew I of Constantinople and sign a Joint Declaration, before concluding the day with Holy Mass in the Volkswagen Arena. Sunday, 30 November (the Feast of Saint Andrew) begins with a prayer visit to the Armenian-Apostolic Cathedral, followed by a Divine Liturgy at Saint George’s, an ecumenical blessing and a private lunch with Patriarch Bartholomew.
Lebanon: Witness, Prayer and Hope
In the afternoon of 30 November the Pope departs Istanbul and flies to Beirut, where he will meet Lebanon’s President, the President of the National Assembly and the Prime Minister, followed by an address to civil authorities, society and diplomats.
On 1 December, his agenda begins with a visit to the tomb of St Charbel Maklūf at the Monastery of Saint Maroun in Annaya, then to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa. He will meet with bishops, priests, consecrated persons and pastoral workers, and hold a private meeting with Catholic Patriarchs at the Apostolic Nunciature. In the afternoon there will be an ecumenical and inter-religious encounter in Martyrs’ Square in Beirut and a meeting with young people in the square before the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerké.
On 2 December, the final day, Pope Leo will visit staff and patients at the De La Croix Hospital in Jal Ed Dib, pause for silent prayer at the site of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and then celebrate Holy Mass at the Beirut waterfront before his departure for Rome.
Themes, Significance and Mission
This journey may well define the themes of his early pontificate. As one Catholic commentator writes, “the trip … will focus on ecumenical, interreligious relations” especially in regions shaped by both Christian heritage and contemporary crises.
The choice of Turkey, for the Nicaea commemoration, underscores the ecumenical dimension: as Pope Leo explained in July, the council took place “before the different divisions” in Christianity, and in the Creed “we can all still find a common profession of faith.”
His visit to Lebanon brings a more humanitarian and peace-making dimension: Lebanon “a country afflicted by conflicts and by economic, political and humanitarian crises” becomes a context in which the Pontiff will “give witness to peace on a geopolitical level.”
The silent prayer planned at the site of the Beirut port explosion invites a posture of solidarity with suffering and wounded communities—especially for Christians whose presence in the Middle East has become fragile.
For Catholic-Audience Reflection
For the Catholic faithful, this journey invites us to reflect on several invitations:
- The Creed we profess transcends divisions: during the visit to Iznik the Pope will recall our shared faith rooted in Nicaea.
- Dialogue in faith and society matters: engaging with Orthodox, Muslim and civil leaders, the Pope models the call of the Gospel to be bridge-builders.
- The Church stands with the suffering: from the nursing home in Istanbul to the explosion site in Beirut, the visit emphasizes compassion and presence.
- Mission is global yet personal: while the Pope speaks to heads of state, he also meets young people, clergy and religious—a reminder that sanctity and witness are lived in daily relationships.
As Catholics, we may carry this intention into our prayers: “Blessed are the peacemakers”—the motto of the Lebanon leg of the journey.
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