November 26, 2025
Web desk
Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on the first international trip of his pontificate from November 27 to December 2, visiting Turkey and Lebanon to advance his message of unity amid global political and religious fractures. The visit, originally planned under Pope Francis, now offers Leo a chance to turn his early calls for peace into meaningful diplomatic progress.
A major highlight of the trip will be his historic third meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea the fourth-century assembly that produced the foundational Christian creed recited worldwide today. The Vatican views the encounter as a key step toward strengthening ties between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.
Ahead of his departure, Pope Leo released an apostolic letter titled In Unitate Fidei (“In the Unity of Faith”), emphasizing the ecumenical significance of the Nicene Creed. He urged Christians to move beyond outdated theological disputes and present a unified spiritual force for peace in a world struggling with conflict and division.
Upon arriving in Ankara on Thanksgiving Day, the pope will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. His visit follows a stop in the Turkish capital by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stated that Turkey is prepared to provide a platform for discussions aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
