León XIV begins his first international trip with a message of peace to Tur

León XIV begins his first international trip with a message of peace to Turkey and Lebanon

28-11-25

Pope León XIV will begin this Thursday, 27 November, his first journey abroad, an itinerary of great symbolic weight that will take him to Turkey and Lebanon until 2 December, with a clear purpose: to convey a message of peace, hope and unity in turbulent times.

From his residence in Castel Gandolfo, León XIV acknowledged that part of his motivation is to take part in the commemoration of the 1,700th anniversary of the historic First Council of Nicaea, held in the year 325 in ancient Nicaea, now the Turkish town of Iznik. It is precisely in Iznik that he will lead an ecumenical prayer by the lake where the ruins of the ancient church of Saint Neophytos lie submerged, a gesture that underlines his desire for reconciliation between Eastern and Western Christian communities.

Although the visit to Turkey had already been planned by his predecessor, Francis, who was unable to make the trip, León XIV decided to keep it as a fundamental milestone of his pontificate. In addition, the tour will extend to Lebanon, a country marked by recent tensions and a deep humanitarian crisis, where the pontiff seeks to draw close to affected Christian communities and send a strong message of solidarity.

During his stay in Turkey, León XIV is expected to meet with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This meeting could serve as a platform for the Pope to address issues of international peace, interreligious dialogue and the situation of displaced persons, in a regional context strongly marked by conflict. The visit also includes a stop in Istanbul, where an ecumenical prayer together with Patriarch Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of the Orthodox Christians, is planned, a clear sign of the search for Christian unity and interfaith dialogue.

For Lebanon, this trip represents an opportunity to give visibility to a local Church that has historically been vulnerable, severely affected by economic, migratory and security crises. León XIV intends to draw close to Maronite faithful and other Christian communities, offer moral comfort and express his commitment to peace and reconciliation in a nation that has suffered deeply.

León XIV’s journey has aroused enormous media interest: around 80 international outlets have confirmed that they will accompany the papal delegation, although many others will have to remain outside due to lack of space. This level of attention reflects not only the religious relevance of the trip, but also its historical and diplomatic significance: it is expected that the visit will lay the foundations for a new phase of the papacy, marked by religious diplomacy, ecumenism and a stronger commitment to communities facing crisis situations.

Beyond the liturgical celebrations, the tour aims to send a universal message: in a world fragmented by territorial disputes, religious tensions and growing inequalities, the pontiff is betting on peace, mutual understanding and solidarity. For León XIV, the legacy of the Council of Nicaea —unity in faith— can today become a symbol of global reconciliation.

With this first international trip, León XIV begins to define his leadership style: a blend of tradition, historical memory, diplomacy and social commitment. Turkey and Lebanon will be the first stage of a pontificate that, in the words of the Holy See, aspires to promote unity, dialogue and hope in regions where these values are more necessary than ever.

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