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Pope Leo XIV Embarks on First Foreign Trip, Visiting Turkey and Lebanon
Pope Leo XIV is set to undertake his inaugural international journey as pontiff next month, with official visits planned for Turkey and Lebanon. This significant trip carries profound symbolic weight for both Christian and Muslim communities, notably fulfilling a pilgrimage originally planned by his predecessor, Pope Francis.
The Vatican confirmed on Tuesday that Pope Leo will be in Turkey from November 27-30, followed by a visit to Lebanon from November 30 to December 2. The Turkish leg of the journey includes a special pilgrimage to Iznik, where he will commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, recognized as the first ecumenical council in Christian history.
This anniversary holds particular importance for Catholic-Orthodox relations. Pope Francis had intended to mark the occasion with his own visit to Turkey in May, accepting an invitation from Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians. Following Francis’s passing in April, Pope Leo, the first American pope, swiftly affirmed his commitment to carrying out his predecessor’s planned engagements.
The trip presents a crucial opportunity for Pope Leo to address broader issues of peace and stability in the Middle East, as well as the ongoing challenges faced by Christian communities in the volatile region. Like Pope Francis, Leo has been a consistent advocate for peace and dialogue in the Middle East, particularly amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Lebanon’s inclusion in the itinerary is especially poignant. The last papal visit to the country was by Pope Benedict XVI in September 2012, which marked the final foreign trip of his papacy. Pope Francis had long expressed a desire to visit Lebanon, but persistent political and economic instability prevented him from doing so during his lifetime.
Lebanon, a Mediterranean nation of approximately six million people, hosts over one million Syrian and Palestinian refugees. It boasts the highest percentage of Christians in the Middle East and stands as the sole Arab nation with a Christian president. However, the Vatican has expressed concerns that the country’s instability poses a serious threat to its Christian community, which serves as a vital stronghold for the church in the region.
The nation is currently grappling with recovery efforts following years of economic crisis and a devastating conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which concluded with a U.S. and French-brokered ceasefire in November. While the formation of a new, reformist government in November ended a two-year political stalemate and sparked hopes for recovery, the situation remains precarious.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced the papal visit via social media, providing only the dates. The Vatican stated that the full itinerary for the trip would be released at a later date.
Roughly one-third of Lebanon’s population is estimated to be Christian, though no official count has been conducted since 1932. The Maronites represent the largest and most influential Christian sect, and traditionally, Lebanon’s president is always a Maronite Christian.