Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope and newly elected leader of the Roman Catholic Church, is set to embark on his inaugural international journey from November 27 to December 2, 2025. The papal visit will take him first to Turkey, followed by Lebanon, reflecting a strategic and symbolic focus on peace efforts in the Middle East and strong solidarity with Christian communities in the region.
In Turkey, Pope Leo will commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a foundational event in Christian history that resulted in the formulation of the Nicene Creed, still recited in churches worldwide. The Pope is expected to visit Iznik, the modern-day location of Nicaea, and participate in commemorative activities. During his stay, he will meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, spiritual leader of roughly 300 million Eastern Orthodox Christians, signaling a significant ecumenical gesture toward Christian unity.
Following his trip to Turkey, Pope Leo will proceed to Lebanon, a country notable for hosting the largest Christian population in the Middle East. Lebanon’s Maronite Christian community, historically influential and represented by the country’s president, invited the pope to the visit. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun extended the invitation during a June meeting at the Vatican. The pope’s presence in Lebanon is anticipated to bring a message of peace and unity amid the nation’s complex political and religious landscape.
During his time in Lebanon from November 30 to December 2, Pope Leo is expected to commemorate the victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, which claimed the lives of around 200 people, highlighting his pastoral care and attention to local suffering. The visit also aims to strengthen the relationship between the Vatican and Lebanon's diverse religious communities, fostering dialogue and reconciliation in a region often divided by sectarian tensions.
This historic trip serves multiple purposes: it is a pastoral mission to support vulnerable Christian minorities, an ecumenical engagement promoting Christian unity, and a diplomatic act underscoring the Vatican's commitment to peace in a volatile region. Pope Leo’s journey follows in the footsteps of his predecessor, who had planned visits to these countries but was unable to undertake them due to health concerns.
Lebanon’s Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops warmly welcomed the apostolic visit, expressing hope that it will bring peace and stability while serving as a symbol of unity between Christians and Muslims during a challenging period in the nation’s history. An advisor to Patriarch Bartholomew highlighted that Pope Leo’s visit aims to affirm coexistence and mutual respect among people of different faiths and races.
The Vatican confirmed that the pope accepted invitations from both civil and ecclesiastical leaders of Turkey and Lebanon, with the trip expected to reinforce international relations and interreligious dialogue. This engagement underscores the modern papacy's role as a global spiritual leader and mediator.