Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to undertake his initial foreign trip as pontiff, a six-day itinerary that includes visits to Turkey and Lebanon.
Turkey Visit
The first segment of the trip will take place in Turkey. A primary event involves a gathering in Iznik, the historical site of Nicaea. Pope Leo XIV and leaders from various Christian traditions will convene to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of an ancient council held there.
In 325 AD, more than 200 bishops at the Council of Nicaea affirmed the belief in Jesus as the Son of God, a decision that contributed to the formulation of the Nicene Creed. This meeting aims to promote unity and address historical divisions between Eastern and Western Christian branches.
During his time in Turkey, Pope Leo XIV is also slated to visit the Blue Mosque. This follows similar visits by his predecessors, Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI. He is scheduled to engage in meetings with other religious leaders as part of an inter-religious dialogue initiative.
Lebanon Visit
Following the events in Turkey, Pope Leo XIV will proceed to Lebanon. This visit occurs days after Israeli airstrikes impacted the capital city, Beirut.
Papal Themes and Predecessors
These trips were initially planned by the late Pope Francis. Pope Leo XIV has adopted the theme of "building bridges" since his election in May.