The Vatican has just unveiled a trip that promises to be historic. From November 27 to December 2, 2025, Pope Leo XIV will make his first international apostolic visit, a six-day tour that will take him to Turkey and then Lebanon. The program, released this Monday, October 27, confirms the new pontiff's ambition: eight cities visited, nine speeches planned, and two major masses in stadiums in Istanbul and Beirut.
This first trip reveals many of the priorities of Pope Leo XIV, elected last May to succeed Francis. By choosing Turkey and Lebanon as his first destinations, the American pope immediately placed his pontificate within a dual perspective: that of ecumenical dialogue with Eastern Christians, and that of diplomacy for peace in the Middle East. This choice is no coincidence, as the region is going through one of its most unstable periods in decades.
A historical and symbolic journey
The ecumenical dimension at the heart of the move
The first Turkish leg of the trip was not chosen at random. In 2025, the Catholic Church celebrates the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, held in 325 AD. It was in Iznik, ancient Nicaea, that Leo XIV would take his first steps outside Italy as pontiff.
This council, which brought together hundreds of bishops from across the Christian world of the time, remains a founding council for all Christian churches. It was here that the Nicene Creed was formulated, a profession of faith shared to this day by Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants. By visiting this place of shared memory, Leo XIV sent a powerful message: Christian unity remains an absolute priority of his pontificate.
This ecumenical approach is in line with his predecessors', but it takes on a particular resonance. Since his election, the new pope has continued to multiply gestures in favor of rapprochement between Christians. We remember this historic prayer with King Charles III in the Sistine Chapel in October, the first since Henry VIII's break with Rome in 1534. Or this ecumenical celebration at Saint Paul Outside the Walls for the martyrs of the 21st century.
The geopolitical dimension of a carefully considered choice
But this trip is not just about religious memory. By visiting Turkey, a NATO member but also close to Russia, and then Lebanon, a country scarred by decades of conflict and located a few hundred kilometers from Gaza, Leo XIV immediately placed his pontificate under the sign of balanced diplomacy.
The choice of Lebanon appears particularly significant. This small Mediterranean country, long held up as a model of coexistence between Christians and Muslims, is undergoing a profound crisis. Christian communities, once the majority, now represent only about 301,000 of the population and continue to flee. The papal visit is seen as a crucial sign of support for these faithful tempted to leave.
Moreover, the timing is telling. As tensions persist between Israel and its neighbors, the war in Gaza continues to rage, and violence escalates in the West Bank, the Pope's presence in Lebanon resonates as a call for peace. Since his election, Leo XIV has consistently advocated for a ceasefire and a two-state solution. This trip will allow him to bring this message closer to the affected populations.
The program in Türkiye: between history and dialogue
Iznik and the Commemoration of Nicaea
The first Turkish leg will take place in Iznik, on the shores of the lake of the same name, about 130 kilometers southeast of Istanbul. It was here that Constantine the Great summoned the bishops of the Roman Empire in 325 to end the theological disputes that were tearing the early Church apart.
The program includes a solemn celebration in the ancient ruins, attended by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, a central figure in world Orthodoxy. This meeting is of particular significance. Relations between Rome and Constantinople, despite centuries of separation since the Great Schism of 1054, have warmed considerably in recent decades.
Pope Leo XIV is expected to deliver a major speech on Christian unity, addressing contemporary challenges that require a common response: growing secularization, the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, and the ethical questions posed by technological advances. The stated goal is to demonstrate that, beyond the liturgical and ecclesiological differences that remain, Catholics and Orthodox share a common foundation of faith.
Representatives of Protestant and Anglican churches will also be present, making this commemoration a truly ecumenical moment. The Vatican hopes that this day will breathe new life into inter-Christian dialogue, which has sometimes been hampered in recent years by geopolitical tensions, particularly surrounding the war in Ukraine.
Istanbul: Interfaith Meetings and Diplomacy
After Iznik, the Pope will travel to Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire and now a megalopolis of more than 15 million inhabitants. The schedule there is particularly packed, reflecting the complexity of the issues at stake.
One of the most sensitive issues concerns the meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Relations between the Vatican and Ankara have experienced ups and downs in recent years. While secular Turkey officially remains a state respectful of all religions, the regime's authoritarian drift and certain controversial decisions, such as the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020, have cooled relations.
The official program includes a meeting at the presidential palace, but the Vatican has taken care to balance this formal dimension with more spiritual moments. Leo XIV will visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, strengthening ties with Bartholomew I, and will pay his respects in several historic churches in the city.
A mass at the Istanbul stadium will bring together Turkey's small Catholic community, estimated at fewer than 50,000, as well as worshippers from neighboring countries. It will be an opportunity for the Pope to deliver a speech on religious freedom, a topic dear to the Holy See and particularly sensitive in a country where Christian minorities have been progressively marginalized throughout the 20th century.
The Pope is also expected to meet with representatives of Turkish Islam. Such interfaith exchanges have become a tradition of papal visits, but they take on a special dimension in a predominantly Muslim country that presents itself as a bridge between East and West.
Lebanon: Supporting Eastern Christians
Beirut and the Christian community in crisis
After Turkey, Leo XIV will fly to Beirut, the Lebanese capital still scarred by the terrible port explosion in 2020. Lebanon represents a particular challenge for the Holy See. This country, where Christians have long played a major political and economic role, is seeing its Christian population dwindle year after year.
The exodus is massive: faced with political instability, economic collapse, and regional tensions, thousands of Lebanese Christians are choosing to emigrate. Some estimates speak of 100,000 departures per year. This hemorrhage deeply worries the Vatican, which fears the disappearance of a thousand-year-old Christian presence in the heart of the Middle East.
The program includes several meetings with local Christian communities, in all their denominational diversity. Lebanon is home not only to Maronite Catholics (the largest community), but also to Greek Catholics, Armenian Catholics, Syriac Catholics, and Orthodox Christians of various traditions. Leo XIV is expected to meet with the patriarchs and leaders of these churches, bringing them a message of solidarity and encouragement.
A large mass at the Beirut stadium will bring together faithful from different Christian denominations. It will be the highlight of the Lebanese trip, with an expected homily on the vocation of Eastern Christians to remain "witnesses of the Gospel" in their native land. The Pope is expected to reaffirm his firm opposition to emigration as a solution, while recognizing the immense difficulties facing these communities.
Visits to working-class neighborhoods, Christian schools, and social centers will allow the Pope to experience the daily reality of the Lebanese people firsthand. The Vatican indicated that Leo XIV was particularly interested in meeting young people to understand their aspirations and fears for the future.
A message of peace for the Middle East
But the trip to Lebanon is not only aimed at the Christian community. As in Istanbul, interfaith meetings are planned. Leo XIV is expected to address Lebanese Muslim leaders, both Sunni and Shiite, as well as the country's small Jewish community.
The geopolitical context will give these meetings a particular resonance. Lebanon lives under the constant threat of a new war with Israel, as evidenced by the regular clashes on the southern border. The country is also under the influence of Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite organization supported by Iran and considered a terrorist organization by many Western countries.
The Pope is expected to deliver a major speech on Middle East peace, calling on all parties to lay down their arms. Since his election, Pope Leo XIV has made numerous calls to this effect, whether for Gaza, Ukraine, or Sudan. But delivering it from Beirut, a few hundred kilometers from Gaza and Jerusalem, this message will take on a special force.
The Vatican hopes this visit can help revive a stalled peace process. With no illusions about its ability to resolve such complex conflicts, the Holy See relies on its soft diplomacy and moral legitimacy to keep channels of dialogue open, even with actors others refuse to meet.
A meeting with the Lebanese president and the country's authorities is also planned. The Pope is expected to urge them to overcome their divisions and work for the common good, amid years of political paralysis.
The diplomatic stakes of a sensitive trip
The Turkish question and the meeting with Erdogan
This was one of the major questions before the program's publication: what role would the Turkish authorities, and in particular President Erdogan, play? The Vatican's response demonstrates a subtle diplomatic balance.
The meeting with Erdogan will indeed take place, but it will not dominate the Turkish stay. Protocol will be respected, with an interview at the presidential palace, but the Pope will be careful to devote more time to the spiritual and ecumenical dimensions of his visit. This approach allows the Holy See to avoid offending anyone while still asserting its priorities.
Observers note that this caution reflects the policy of balance that Leo XIV appears to want to pursue on the international stage. Unlike Francis, who did not hesitate to directly denounce certain leaders, his American successor is banking on a more muted diplomacy, favoring dialogue even with authoritarian regimes.
This strategy carries risks. Some critics might accuse the Pope of sparing a leader accused of human rights violations. But the Vatican is betting that maintaining dialogue is preferable to isolation, especially in such a strategic region.
The issue of converting Hagia Sophia into a mosque could be raised, although the Vatican has indicated that the pope will not directly address this controversial topic. More broadly, Leo XIV is expected to advocate for greater recognition of religious minorities in Turkey, where the few tens of thousands of remaining Christians face various restrictions.
The Holy See and diplomacy for peace
This trip is part of a broader diplomatic strategy pursued by the Vatican since the election of Leo XIV. The new pope clearly expressed his desire to make the Holy See a credible and active peacemaker on the international stage.
As early as June, the Pope had attempted to renew dialogue with Vladimir Putin. In July, he received Volodymyr Zelensky at Castel Gandolfo. He also increased his calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and received Israeli President Isaac Herzog in September. This all-out diplomacy aims to position the Vatican as a potential mediator in several conflicts.
The trip to Turkey and Lebanon is part of this logic. By visiting two countries that maintain complex relationships with their neighbors, the Pope demonstrates his desire to be present on all fronts. Turkey, a NATO member but also close to Russia, plays a geopolitical balancing act. Lebanon, wedged between Israel and Syria, caught between Western and Eastern influences, also embodies this Middle Eastern complexity.
The Holy See relies on its institutional neutrality and extensive diplomatic experience to provide a space for dialogue where other actors fail. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, will accompany the Pope on this trip, a sign of the importance attached to its diplomatic dimension.
Expectations surrounding this first trip
For the Universal Catholic Church
This first international trip will be closely scrutinized by the worldwide Catholic Church. Six months into his pontificate, Leo XIV has yet to truly define his personal style. His election had raised hopes of continuity with Francis among some, and expectations of change among others.
The choice of Turkey and Lebanon, rather than more traditional destinations such as Latin America or Africa, sends a clear message: the new pope intends to continue the Catholic Church's commitment to Eastern Christians, while affirming its role as an international mediator.
For the Roman Curia, this trip will also be a test. How will the American pope, who only took office in May, manage the logistical challenges and protocols of a papal visit? His colleagues in the Dicastery for Evangelization, responsible for organizing apostolic journeys, have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this first outing.
Catholics around the world will be following the Pope's speeches with interest, searching for clues about his theological and pastoral priorities. Will Leo XIV, who has made quoting St. Augustine a hallmark of his speeches, surprise us with new references? Or will he confirm the Augustinian line he has adopted since his election?
For local communities: hope and concern
For Christians in Turkey and Lebanon, this trip represents a tremendous comfort. Often feeling abandoned by the Christian West and isolated in predominantly Muslim societies, they see the papal visit as a sign that Rome has not forgotten them.
Preparations in both countries have been in full swing since the trip was announced in October. Welcoming committees have been formed, banners prepared, and choirs formed. The enthusiasm is palpable, even if some concern remains: will the Pope's visit really change their situation?
Christian communities hope that the international media coverage of the trip will draw attention to their plight. They hope the Pope will clearly denounce the persecution they sometimes face, while recognizing that in these complex societies, relations between communities often remain peaceful on a daily basis.
For young Lebanese Christians tempted by exile, the papal message will be crucial. Will he succeed in convincing them that their future lies in Lebanon? Will he be able to offer them a vision of hope that will make life in a country in crisis bearable? These are existential questions that the Pope will have to answer with authenticity.
Muslim communities in both countries are also watching this trip with interest. While day-to-day interfaith relations are generally cordial, tensions do exist. The Pope's address on interfaith dialogue will therefore be important, especially as it will take place in a regional context marked by conflict and misunderstanding.
From November 27 to December 2, the eyes of the Catholic world will be turned toward Turkey and Lebanon. This first trip by Leo XIV already outlines the contours of a pontificate that aims to be both faithful to Francis's priorities—ecumenical dialogue, attention to the peripheries, diplomacy for peace—and bearer of his own sensibility, that of an American pope trained in the missions of Latin America and now confronted with the challenges of the Middle East.
The success of this trip will be measured by several criteria: the Pope's ability to comfort Eastern Christians without provoking tensions, the impact of his messages of peace in a region torn apart by conflict, and the quality of the relationships he establishes with local political and religious authorities. This is a major challenge for the 70-year-old pontiff, who is still discovering the intricacies of his new role, but who can rely on the Vatican's formidable diplomatic machine and the expertise accumulated by his predecessors during their own trips to the region.
Join us at the end of November to experience, day after day, this first page in the history of the pontificate of Leo XIV, between the memory of Nicaea and hope for Lebanon.
