Historic visit of Pope Leo to the Ecumenical Patriarchate – High-risk mission in the "fire" of the Middle East

History begins to be written today, November 27, 2025, with Pope Leo XIV's six-day tour of Turkey and Lebanon, his first trip abroad since his election, during which he is expected to emphasize central themes of his nascent papacy: dialogue and unity.

Foreign trips are a key tool of the Vatican's "soft power," giving the current pontiff the opportunity to meet political leaders, address local Catholic communities, and focus international attention on regional issues.

Traveling to Lebanon means Leo is entering the heart of a region afflicted by continuous conflicts, and he arrives in Beirut just a few days after Israeli strikes on the capital. For him, the visit is an opportunity to strengthen his calls for harmony and dialogue in the Middle East, reiterating the first words he spoke after his election: "Peace be with all of you."

He is also following the path of Pope Francis, who used his international travels to support afflicted countries, such as South Sudan and the Central African Republic, and who, early in his papacy, visited Turkey and the Holy Land.

The first American Pope is making his first trip during the American Thanksgiving holiday, a period associated with gratitude, coexistence, and peace—concepts expected to acquire a global dimension during his visit to two Muslim-majority countries that also host ancient Christian communities.

Leo will deliver all his speeches in English and French—not Italian—signaling a cultural shift in the Vatican with the first US-born pontiff, who speaks several languages fluently.

Why is the pope traveling to Turkey and Lebanon?

Pope Leo is honoring promises made by Francis, who had planned visits to Lebanon in 2022 and Turkey in 2025, but both were postponed for health reasons. The presidents of both countries officially invited the pontiff to visit their homelands.

Although Turkey is a Muslim-majority country, it is the seat of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Western and Eastern Christian Churches separated in 1054, in the "Great Schism." Previous popes—Francis, Benedict XVI, and John Paul II—traveled to Turkey early in their papacies as an attempt to bridge differences.

Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald, former head of the Vatican's department for interreligious dialogue, told CNN that "Pope Leo is following his predecessors by going to Turkey on his first trip. It is a deeply Muslim country, but he is going for Christian reasons."

Leo also continues the Vatican's long-standing diplomatic action in the Middle East. In 2021, Francis hosted Lebanese Christian leaders at the Vatican due to the country's political crisis. Despite the Muslim majority, the president of Lebanon—currently Joseph Aoun—is traditionally a Maronite Christian.

Which important ecclesiastical event is Leo honoring in Turkey?

Leo is traveling to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325 AD) in the area of modern-day Iznik, where the "Nicene Creed"—the Symbol of Faith—was formulated, which is still recited today in Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and other churches.

The pope will participate in an event in Iznik along with Patriarch Bartholomew and other Christian leaders. Previously, Leo had published a letter asking the churches "to leave behind theological disputes that no longer have a reason for existence" and to pursue "reconciliation through dialogue."

The Great Ecclesiarch Aetios, Dimitrios Nikiforos, a close associate of Bartholomew, stated that the anniversary can be a "defining moment for the present and future of Christianity," adding that environmental protection will be on the agenda. Bartholomew is, after all, known as the "green Patriarch."

Leo will also honor the Feast of St. Andrew, important for the Orthodox Church, and is expected to sign a joint declaration with the Patriarch.

During his stay in Turkey, he will visit the Blue Mosque, but not the Hagia Sophia, which was converted back into a mosque in 2020—an event that had caused Francis's displeasure at the time. On Saturday, he will celebrate Mass at the Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul and will visit the Diyanet in Ankara, as well as the Chief Rabbi of Turkey.

What will Leo do in Lebanon?

The pope arrives in the country on Sunday. He will meet with political leaders, young people, and religious representatives of all communities and will celebrate Mass on the Beirut waterfront.

On December 2, he will pray in silence at the site of the Beirut port explosion in 2020, where 218 people died and more than 7,000 were injured. Lebanon is a country with impressive religious diversity and hosts 12 Christian communities. Leo will have private meetings with Christian, Muslim, and Druze leaders.

The Maronites—the largest Christian group—obey the pope but maintain their own liturgical traditions, including married priests. Leo will visit the Monastery of Saint Maron and the tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf, known for his spirituality and unifying action.

His program includes a visit to a psychiatric facility run by nuns, the Hospital Dde la Croix, as well as the planting of a cedar tree at the Presidential Palace. Michel Abboud, head of Caritas Lebanon, stated that the pope's visit "reminds people that, despite the difficult conditions, they are not alone."

How does the pope travel and who accompanies him?

The first pope to travel by plane was Paul VI in 1964. Leo is flying with ITA Airways, along with about 80 journalists. He is accompanied by top Vatican officials, cardinals responsible for Christian dialogue, the Eastern Churches, and other services, as well as a medical team. During his stay, he will travel by car, military helicopter, and a special electric golf-buggy type vehicle.

Where will he stay?

Popes usually stay at the residence of the apostolic nuncio. In Turkey, however, Leo will not spend the night in Ankara but at the Apostolic Delegation in Istanbul, on Papa Roncalli Street.

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