Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on a historic journey to Turkey and Lebanon next month, marking his first foreign trip as the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican officially announced on October 7, 2025, that the six-day apostolic voyage will take place from November 27 to December 2, with stops in both countries that have deep religious significance and face ongoing political and humanitarian challenges.
The trip will begin in Turkey, where Pope Leo will visit the city of Iznik, the modern name for ancient Nicaea. This visit coincides with the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a pivotal ecumenical gathering in 325 AD that led to the formulation of the Nicene Creed—a foundational statement of Christian faith. According to the Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni, the pope accepted invitations from the heads of state and ecclesiastical authorities of both Turkey and Lebanon, underscoring the diplomatic and spiritual weight of the journey.
On November 28, Pope Leo will undertake a joint pilgrimage to Nicaea with Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. The pair will then spend two days in the Phanar, the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, where they will celebrate the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle on November 30. This collaboration highlights a renewed push for unity and dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox branches of Christianity—an effort that has been ongoing for decades but gains fresh momentum with this anniversary.
Pope Leo XIV will become the fifth pope ever to visit Turkey, following in the footsteps of Pope Francis, who traveled there in 2014 to strengthen interreligious dialogue with both Orthodox and Muslim leaders. The significance of this visit is not lost on observers. As reported by Newsweek, the anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea is considered an important milestone in Catholic-Orthodox relations, and the trip was originally envisioned by Pope Francis before his death in April 2025. Leo, the first American pope, made it clear from the start of his pontificate that he intended to fulfill Francis’ plans, stating, “I intended to complete Francis' plans.”
After his time in Turkey, Pope Leo will travel to Lebanon from November 30 to December 2. This marks the first papal visit to the Mediterranean nation since Pope Benedict XVI’s trip in September 2012. Lebanon, a country with a population of about six million, is unique in the Arab world for having the largest percentage of Christians and being the only Arab state with a Christian head of state. The Maronite Church, the largest Christian denomination in Lebanon, holds a special place in the nation’s political and religious fabric. By longstanding convention, the Lebanese president is always a Maronite Christian—a tradition currently embodied by President Joseph Aoun.
The Lebanese government and religious leaders have greeted news of the pope’s visit with optimism and gratitude. The Assembly of the Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon expressed their appreciation for Pope Leo’s “fatherly love and special concern” for the Lebanese people, stating, “We receive this historic event with great joy and renewed hope, praying this apostolic visit may bring Lebanon peace and stability, and that it may be a sign of unity for all Lebanese Christians and Muslims alike, in this delicate phase of our nation’s history.” President Aoun echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that “all Lebanese—Christians and Muslims alike, from every sect and community—are preparing to receive him with sincere joy and rare national unity that reflects the true image of Lebanon.”
Lebanon’s challenges are formidable. The nation is still reeling from years of economic crisis, the aftermath of a devastating war between Israel and Hezbollah, and the lingering effects of the 2020 Beirut port explosion. The formation of a new, reformist government in November 2024 ended a two-year political vacuum, sparking hopes for recovery, but the situation remains tense. As The Associated Press reported, Israel continues to occupy five strategic points on the Lebanese border and conducts near-daily airstrikes aimed at Hezbollah, the powerful Shiite militant group. Hezbollah, under both domestic and international pressure, has refused to disarm until Israel withdraws and halts its strikes. There are widespread fears of renewed civil conflict if authorities attempt to forcibly disarm the group.
Adding to Lebanon’s burdens is its role as a host to refugees. According to a 2024 UNHCR report, Lebanon has the highest number of refugees per capita and per square kilometer in the world, including approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees. This immense humanitarian responsibility has strained the country’s resources and social fabric, making the pope’s message of peace, unity, and support for marginalized communities especially poignant.
Pope Leo’s journey is also deeply symbolic for the region’s Christians, many of whom have faced decades of persecution, war, and displacement. In remarks earlier this year to Eastern Catholics in Rome, Leo said, “The church needs you! I thank God for those Christians, Eastern and Latin alike, who, above all in the Middle East, persevere and remain in their homelands, resisting the temptation to abandon them. Christians must be given the opportunity, and not just in words, to remain in their native lands with all the rights needed for a secure existence.”
Peace and dialogue have been recurring themes in Pope Leo’s addresses since his election. He has consistently called for negotiations to resolve conflicts in the Middle East, especially as Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza continues to claim lives and disrupt communities. During a recent Mass in St. Peter’s Square, Leo stated, “In recent hours, in the dramatic situation in the Middle East, some significant steps forward have been taken in peace negotiations, which I hope will achieve the desired results as soon as possible. I ask all those in positions of responsibility to commit themselves to this path, to bring about a ceasefire and to release the hostages. At the same time, I urge everyone to remain united in prayer, so that the ongoing efforts may put an end to the war and lead us towards a just and lasting peace.”
The Vatican has yet to release the full itinerary for the trip, but the symbolic importance of Pope Leo’s journey is already clear. Walid Ghayad, a spokesman for the Lebanese Maronite Church, summed up the mood by saying the visit “would send a message to the entire world and to Christians in the East, who are marginalized.” The visit is expected to shine a spotlight not only on interfaith dialogue and ecumenical cooperation but also on the urgent need for peace, stability, and protection of minorities in the region.
Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming pilgrimage through Turkey and Lebanon promises to be more than a diplomatic gesture. It is a testament to the enduring hope for reconciliation, unity, and peace in a region where such aspirations are both desperately needed and fiercely tested.
