Pope Leo XIV Embarks on First Foreign Trip to Turkey and Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV commenced his first foreign trip on Thursday, arriving in Ankara, Turkey, to foster interfaith dialogue and commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. During his stay, he is scheduled to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople.

In Ankara, the Pope visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, before engaging in discussions with President Erdogan. The Turkish leader praised the Pope's "astute stance" on the Palestinian issue and emphasized the importance of justice for the Palestinian people.

On Friday, Pope Leo XIV will travel to İznik, historically known as Nicaea, to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a pivotal event in Christian history that resulted in the Nicene Creed.

Following his visit to Turkey, the Pope will proceed to Lebanon, home to the Arab world's largest Catholic community, to meet with church and government officials. The trip aims to address the challenges faced by Christians in the region and promote peace amid ongoing conflicts.

Pope Leo XIV's decision to begin his first international journey in Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country with a small Catholic population, underscores his commitment to interfaith dialogue and cooperation among Christian denominations.