Pope Leo to visit Turkey, Lebanon in first papal trip
Pope Leo to visit Turkey, Lebanon in first papal trip
The Vatican has announced that Pope Leo XIV will embark on his first foreign papal trip as the leader of the global Catholic Church, visiting Turkey and Lebanon in late November.
Pope Leo will visit Turkey from November 27 to 30 and Lebanon from November 30 to December 2.
In Turkey, according to a brief statement by Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, the Pope will meet with Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world’s 260 million Orthodox Christians, to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a significant event in Christian history.
“The visit will include a pilgrimage to Iznik on the occasion of the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea,” a Vatican spokesman said.
During his foreign trip, the Pope is expected to speak about the plight of Christians in the Middle East and appeal for peace across the region.
His predecessor, Pope Francis, had planned to visit both countries before his health issues prevented him from doing so.
Tribune Online reports that Pope Leo, who emerged in May to succeed Pope Francis following his demise, charged the church to be the kind that builds bridges, a dialogue, and is always open to receive everyone who needs its charity with open arms.
“We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, a dialogue, always open to receive, like this square with open arms, everyone who needs our charity, our presence, dialogue and love,” Pope Leo said in his first speech.
