Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on his first international journey as pontiff, visiting Lebanon and Turkey from November 27 to December 2. The trip, announced by the Vatican on Monday, will focus on interfaith dialogue, ecumenical relations, and addressing the challenges faced by Christians in the Middle East. A key highlight of the visit will be a prayer at the site of the 2020 Beirut port blast, which claimed over 200 lives and exacerbated Lebanon’s ongoing economic and political turmoil. This poignant moment underscores the Pope’s commitment to solidarity with those affected by the tragedy, which remains a symbol of government negligence and systemic corruption in the country. In Turkey, Pope Leo will mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, Christianity’s first ecumenical council, with a brief prayer at the archaeological site of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos. He will also visit the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Istanbul, a site of historical significance given the contentious debate over the Armenian Genocide. While Pope Francis had previously labeled the events as the ‘first genocide of the 20th century,’ it remains to be seen whether Pope Leo will echo this characterization. The itinerary notably excludes visits to southern Lebanon, heavily impacted by the 2023 Israel-Hezbollah conflict, and Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, which was controversially reconverted into a mosque in 2020. Instead, the Pope will visit the nearby Blue Mosque, emphasizing a message of interfaith harmony. This trip, originally planned by Pope Francis, reflects Pope Leo’s dedication to continuing his predecessor’s legacy of fostering unity and addressing regional tensions.
Pope Leo XIV will pray at the site of the 2020 Beirut port blast in his first foreign trip
