Pope Leo XIV arrived in Turkey on Thursday, marking the first foreign trip of his pontificate with a mission to promote interfaith dialogue and peace at a pivotal moment for the region. The visit fulfills plans originally made by his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, and underscores the Vatican’s focus on diplomacy.
The Pope’s itinerary began in the capital, Ankara, where he was scheduled to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and address the country’s diplomatic corps. He will then travel to Istanbul for three days of ecumenical and interfaith meetings, emphasizing religious unity, before continuing his journey to Lebanon.
The trip places the new Pope at the heart of complex geopolitical efforts. Turkey, a predominantly Sunni Muslim nation of 85 million, has positioned itself as a key mediator in the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The Pope’s visit is seen as an endorsement of these diplomatic channels, and his arrival speech was expected to applaud Ankara’s role in hosting negotiations and supporting a fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
By choosing Turkey for his inaugural voyage, Pope Leo XIV is signaling his commitment to continuing Francis’s legacy of bridge-building between East and West, Christianity and Islam, at a time of heightened global conflict.
By James Kisoo
