Pope Leo XIV makes inaugural foreign visit to Türkiye

Pope Leo XIV commenced his first foreign trip as pontiff on Thursday morning, departing from Rome for a significant four-day visit to Türkiye. The papal aircraft, bearing the Vatican insignia, took off from Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport carrying the Pope alongside senior Vatican officials and a press corps exceeding seventy journalists.Ankara Agenda:

Diplomacy and Dialogue

Upon landing at Ankara Esenboga Airport, the Pope's itinerary begins with a tribute at Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of modern Türkiye's founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Official welcoming ceremonies at the Presidential Complex will follow, where private discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are scheduled. These high-level talks are expected to cover bilateral relations between Türkiye and the Holy See, alongside urgent international matters, including the ongoing situation in Palestine.

Interfaith Engagement in Istanbul and Iznik

The second day will see the pontiff in Istanbul, where he will convene with Christian clergy at the St. Esprit Cathedral and visit the French Poorhouse Nursing Home. A helicopter transfer will then carry him to the historic city of Iznik for a religious service. Iznik holds profound significance in Christian history as the site of the First and Second Ecumenical Councils.

Historical and Ecumenical Outreach

Saturday's schedule includes a visit to the Sultanahmet Mosque, a landmark of Islamic architecture, and the Mor Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church. A pivotal meeting with Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos is also planned, emphasizing ecumenical dialogue. The visit will conclude on Sunday with a service at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and a final commemoration at the Fener Greek Patriarchate.