Pope Leo XIV will begin his first overseas trip this Thursday, embarking on a six-day visit to Turkey and Lebanon aimed at promoting Christian unity and encouraging peace efforts amid heightened tensions across the Middle East.
Elected in May, the US-born pontiff now faces his first major international test. His reserved, understated style stands in contrast to his predecessor, the charismatic Pope Francis.
In Turkey—a country positioned at the crossroads of East and West—the Pope will focus on strengthening dialogue between the Catholic Church and Islam. His itinerary includes a Thursday meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, followed by a visit to Istanbul’s Blue Mosque on Saturday.
A central moment of the Turkey leg will be the commemoration of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, where the foundational Christian Creed was established. The 325 A.D. council took place long before the major schisms that later divided Christianity, making the anniversary an important opportunity to call for renewed Christian unity. Pope Leo accepted an invitation from Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christianity, and will join Orthodox dignitaries for a unifying prayer on Friday on the shores of Lake Iznik, the site of ancient Nicaea.
The visit also highlights the longstanding differences between the two traditions: Catholics recognise the Pope’s universal authority, while Orthodox Christians operate through independent churches led by their own patriarchs.
However, the war in Ukraine has deepened tensions between the Moscow and Constantinople patriarchates, resulting in the notable exclusion of Russian Patriarch Kirill from the commemoration. Pope Leo is expected to tread carefully to avoid further aggravating Moscow, which remains wary of any move that could bolster Constantinople’s influence.
While the Chicago-born Pope’s trip has drawn limited attention in predominantly Muslim Turkey, it has generated significant anticipation in Lebanon—a country long seen as a model of religious coexistence. Since 2019, Lebanon has endured a series of severe crises, including a devastating economic collapse, widespread poverty, the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and renewed conflict with Israel. Vincent Gelot of l’Oeuvre d’Orient noted that many Lebanese are “tired” and “expect a frank message to the country’s elite, along with strong and concrete actions.”
Lebanon’s ambassador to the Holy See described the visit as “exceptional,” expressing hope that it will draw global attention to the nation’s ongoing hardships and help pave the way for political and economic progress.
Although few believe the Pope’s presence will resolve Lebanon’s deep-rooted challenges, the visit is seen as a vital moment to highlight the critical work of private—often religious—organisations that continue to sustain access to healthcare and education.
Key moments on the Lebanon itinerary include a meeting with young people, an open-air Mass expected to attract around 100,000 attendees, and a prayer service at the site of the Beirut port blast. The Church’s media coordinator also confirmed that the Pope plans to “reaffirm Lebanon’s role as a model for both East and West” during an interreligious gathering in downtown Beirut.
