Pope Leo XIV to Visit Turkey, Lebanon in First Foreign Trip/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Pope Leo XIV will embark on his first foreign trip next month, visiting Turkey and Lebanon in a journey rich with religious and diplomatic symbolism. The visit will mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea and reaffirm the Vatican’s commitment to peace and interfaith dialogue in the Middle East. The trip also comes amid tensions over Vatican remarks on the Gaza war anniversary.
Quick Highlights
- Trip Dates: Turkey (Nov. 27–30), Lebanon (Nov. 30–Dec. 2)
- Key Event: 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea (Iznik, Turkey)
- First Foreign Visit: Since Leo XIV’s election earlier this year
- Continuing Francis’ Plans: Visit fulfills trips his predecessor hoped to make
- Lebanon Focus: Support for Christian community amid instability
- Peace Message: Expected to address Gaza war and regional reconciliation
- Regional Context: Lebanon recovering from Israel-Hezbollah conflict and economic collapse
- Israel-Vatican Tensions: Dispute over Vatican comments marking Oct. 7 anniversary
- Last Papal Visit to Lebanon: Pope Benedict XVI in 2012
- Symbolism: Strengthening Christian-Muslim unity and Orthodox-Catholic relations
Pope Leo XIV to Visit Turkey, Lebanon in First Foreign Trip
Deep Look
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV will visit Turkey and Lebanon late next month, the Vatican announced Tuesday, marking his first foreign trip as pontiff and signaling a renewed emphasis on dialogue between Christianity and Islam during a turbulent period for the Middle East.
The visit — Nov. 27 to Dec. 2 — will fulfill two long-planned journeys by the late Pope Francis, who had intended to travel to both countries before his death in April.
According to the Vatican, Leo will first visit Turkey from Nov. 27–30, where he will make a pilgrimage to Iznik, the ancient city of Nicea, to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea — Christianity’s first ecumenical council. He will then travel to Lebanon from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, where he is expected to deliver messages of peace and unity to both Christians and Muslims.
A Historic Pilgrimage to the Birthplace of Christian Unity
The Council of Nicea, held in 325 A.D., marked a defining moment in early Christianity — establishing the Nicene Creed and affirming foundational doctrines shared by both Catholic and Orthodox traditions.
By visiting Iznik, Pope Leo aims to highlight the shared heritage between the Eastern and Western Churches, a theme central to his early papacy.
“This anniversary is not just about history — it’s about reconciliation,” said a senior Vatican official. “The pope’s presence in Nicea sends a clear message of Christian unity.”
The journey will also underscore the pope’s commitment to ecumenical dialogue with Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians.
A Mission of Peace in a Fractured Middle East
The announcement came on the second anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on Israel — a date that has reignited tensions across the region and drawn renewed attention to the Vatican’s role in promoting peace.
Pope Leo, the first American-born pope, has consistently called for ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and dialogue amid the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza.
“This trip will give the Holy Father a platform to speak about peace, justice, and coexistence at the heart of the Middle East,” said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state.
Lebanon: A Symbol of Faith and Fragility
In Lebanon, Pope Leo will encounter a nation deeply scarred by years of political paralysis, economic collapse, and conflict. Yet Lebanon remains home to the largest Christian population in the Arab world, with Christians making up roughly one-third of its six million people.
The country’s Maronite Catholic community, the oldest in the Middle East, continues to play a pivotal political and spiritual role.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun confirmed the visit in a post on X, calling it a “moment of renewal and hope.”
“We hope this apostolic visit will bring peace and stability and be a sign of unity for all Lebanese, Christians and Muslims alike,” said Patriarch Bechara Boutros Raï, head of the Maronite Church.
The last papal visit to Lebanon was by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, just months before he resigned.
Lebanon’s Fragile Peace and Israel-Hezbollah Tensions
Pope Leo’s visit also comes as Lebanon navigates the fragile aftermath of last year’s Israel-Hezbollah conflict, which ended with a U.S.- and France-brokered ceasefire in November.
Though a reformist government has since taken power, the situation remains volatile. Israel continues to occupy five key border outposts, citing Hezbollah threats, while daily airstrikes have persisted.
Hezbollah, under mounting domestic and international pressure to disarm, has refused until Israel withdraws. Analysts warn that any government attempt to forcibly seize the group’s weapons could spark civil unrest.
The Vatican has voiced concern that Lebanon’s Christian presence — long a symbol of coexistence — is at risk of decline amid emigration and instability.
“Lebanon remains a beacon of coexistence in the region,” said a Vatican diplomat. “Its Christian community is essential to the Middle East’s plural identity.”
Vatican Diplomacy Tested on Israel’s Criticism
The timing of the trip announcement also coincided with fresh diplomatic tension between the Vatican and Israel over recent comments by Cardinal Parolin.
In an interview with Vatican Media, Parolin condemned the “inhuman massacre” carried out by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, but also described Israel’s military response in Gaza as a “disproportionate massacre.” He urged countries to halt weapons sales to Israel and prioritize humanitarian relief.
In response, Israel’s Embassy to the Holy See said Parolin’s remarks, “though surely well-intentioned,” risked undermining peace efforts and promoting moral equivalence between aggressor and victim.
“Such framing weakens the global fight against antisemitism,” the statement read.
The exchange underscores the diplomatic tightrope Pope Leo XIV must walk as he enters the Middle East — a region where every papal word carries political weight.
A Trip Rooted in Legacy and Renewal
Pope Leo XIV has made clear that his visit is also a continuation of Francis’ unfinished mission — strengthening ties between Christians and Muslims and promoting reconciliation across faiths.
“The Holy Father sees this journey not just as diplomacy but as discipleship,” said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni. “It’s about carrying forward the work Pope Francis began.”
The Vatican will release the official itinerary for the trip in the coming weeks.
For now, Vatican insiders say the symbolic dual visit — one to the birthplace of Christian unity, the other to the beating heart of Middle Eastern Christianity — reflects Pope Leo’s intent to be both bridge-builder and peacemaker in a divided world.
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