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Pope Leo XIV has embarked on his first official trip outside the Vatican today, six months after being elected head of the Catholic Church.
The first destination is Turkey, where the Pope will participate in the historic anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, 1700 years after its holding.
In Iznik (ancient Nicaea), he will join with leaders of other Christian denominations to send messages of unity and healing of centuries-old divisions between the Christian East and West.
During his stay in Turkey, the Pope will also visit the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, a clear approach to deepening interfaith dialogue, just like his predecessors, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.
Despite the recent Israeli bombings in Beirut, the Vatican has confirmed that plans for a visit to Lebanon remain unchanged. There, Pope Leo will hold meetings with religious leaders and young people, delivering a message of hope to the Christian community that makes up about a third of the country's population.
The highlight of the visit to Lebanon will be at Beirut's port square, where over 200 people lost their lives and thousands more were injured in 2020.
In his first six months in office, Pope Leo has been perceived as cautious and cautious, seeking to maintain a balance between progressives and traditionalists within the Catholic Church. He has taken clear positions on humanitarian issues, especially for migrants, but has avoided the political vocality of Pope Francis.
In his meetings with President Erdogan and Lebanese leaders, the Pope is also expected to speak about the conflicts in the region, while the usual press conference will be held on the way back to Rome.
During the visit to Turkey, the Pope will speak publicly in English, with a distinct Chicagoan accent, while in Lebanon he will also use French.
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