Pope Leo XIV has made his first foreign trip since assuming the papacy, arriving in Turkey for a historic visit. His plane landed in the capital Ankara, where he paid respects at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
On the first day of the visit, Pope Leo XIV met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop Sahak Mashalian, also attended the presidential reception held in honor of the pontiff.
As part of the visit, the Pope will travel to Istanbul. He is expected to visit the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, meet with Patriarch Sahak Mashalian, and pray at the Armenian Surp Astvatsatsin Patriarchal Cathedral.
Pope Leo XIV will also take part in the commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea in Iznik.
On November 30, the pontiff will depart for Lebanon to meet with religious leaders and hold a Mass on the Beirut waterfront in memory of the victims of the 2020 explosion.