Pope Leo XIV Begins First Foreign Trip, Aims to Build Bridges in Turkey and Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Turkey, beginning the first foreign trip of his papacy, where he will commemorate a landmark Christian anniversary before travelling to Lebanon, just days after Israeli airstrikes on Beirut.

Speaking aboard the plane to Ankara, the Pope summarised the purpose of his journey:
“All men and women can truly be brothers and sisters, despite differences, despite different religions, despite different beliefs.”

Both visits were originally planned by the late Pope Francis, but the broader theme of bridge-building has become central to Pope Leo’s leadership since his election in May.

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A Papacy Defined by Caution — and Consensus

In the six months since becoming pontiff, Pope Leo has cultivated a reputation as careful, measured, and conciliatory. While he has been vocal on issues such as the dignity of migrants, he has avoided the overt political style that sometimes characterised Pope Francis.

This approach has led both progressives and traditionalists to believe that he supports their vision for the Church. It is widely thought that this ability to unite differing factions contributed to his election by the conclave.

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Historic Gathering in Iznik: 1,700 Years After the Council of Nicaea

A defining moment of the trip will occur in Iznik, the ancient city of Nicaea, where Christian leaders will join Pope Leo to mark 1,700 years since the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.

That council—attended by more than 200 bishops—affirmed the belief that Jesus is the son of God, forming the basis of what became the Nicene Creed, one of Christianity’s core statements of faith.

Though Eastern and Western Christianity eventually split, the Pope is expected to emphasise unity, healing, and togetherness.

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Inter-Faith Outreach in Turkey

While in Turkey, the Pope will:

• Visit the Blue Mosque, as Popes Benedict XVI and Francis did

• Meet Muslim leaders and other faith representatives

• Engage in gestures promoting inter-religious dialogue

The Vatican says the trip’s schedule has not changed despite recent regional tensions.

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Second Stop: Lebanon — Amid Aftermath of Israeli Strikes

The Pope will then fly to Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut earlier this week. Vatican officials insist the visit will proceed as planned.

In Lebanon, Pope Leo will:

• Meet leaders of multiple faiths

• Speak with young people

• Offer support to the country’s substantial Christian population, estimated at about one-third of Lebanese citizens

On his final day, he will celebrate Mass at the Beirut waterfront, the site of the devastating 2020 port explosion, praying for the more than 200 dead and 7,000 injured.

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Diplomacy Under Scrutiny

Pope Leo has repeatedly called for an end to war, though in a less publicly activist way than his predecessor, who famously phoned the Holy Family Church in Gaza daily during the conflict there.

During meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Lebanese civic leaders, the Pope may be pressed to comment further on tensions in the Middle East.
He is also expected to hold the customary in-flight press conference on his return to Rome.

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A Pope with a Chicago Accent

Although fluent in several languages, Pope Leo has mostly spoken Italian in public so far. But the Vatican confirmed he will speak English throughout the Turkey visit, with French used during parts of his time in Lebanon.
Travellers will hear more of the Pope’s distinctive Chicagoan accent, a reminder of his American upbringing.