Pope Leo XIV's Historic Apostolic Journey to Turkey and Lebanon Key Events with his Itinerary and How to Watch!
Voice of Peace and Hope: Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey to Türkiye and Lebanon (See full itinerary at bottom)
The visit, presented by Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni, emphasizes three key pillars: ecumenical commemoration, interreligious dialogue, and support for local Christian communities amid regional challenges. Bruni confirmed that "all necessary security measures have been taken" for the "demanding journey."
SEE ALSO FULL COVERAGE of POPE LEO XIV in Turkiye at LINK https://www.catholicnewsworld.com/search/label/Pope%20Leo%20XIV%20in%20Turkiye
Itinerary and Key Events in Türkiye
The Pope's stops in Türkiye include Ankara, Istanbul, and a significant stop in İznik (ancient Nicaea).
1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea: The central ecumenical event will be a commemoration in İznik. The Pope and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will walk together toward the ruins of the Basilica of St Neophytos for a prayer before icons of Christ and the Council, concluding with the symbolic gesture of lighting a candle of unity.
Interreligious Dialogue (Nov 27): The Pope will visit the Diyanet (Türkiye's Presidency of Religious Affairs) and meet with the Chief Rabbi of Türkiye.
Other Memorable Moments: He will lay a wreath at Atatürk’s mausoleum, pray inside the Blue Mosque, and celebrate Mass at Istanbul’s Volkswagen Arena.
Focus and Key Events in Lebanon
Lebanon is highlighted as a land of coexistence, yet severely affected by the economic crisis, the 2020 port explosion, and recent violence in the south.
Support for Christian Communities: The visit will offer closeness to Christian communities facing emigration and instability, including many Lebanese Christians living abroad.
Ecumenical/Youth Focus: One of the most anticipated events is the encounter with Lebanese youth in Bkerké, at the Maronite Patriarchate, expected to carry strong messages of hope during the Jubilee Year.
Gestures of Solidarity: The Pope will pray at Beirut’s port in memory of the victims of the 2020 explosion.
Interreligious Dialogue: He will hold a private encounter in Beirut with Muslim and Druze leaders.
Other Memorable Moments: The Pope will plant a cedar at the presidential palace in Beirut, pray at the tomb of St Charbel, and before the statue of Our Lady of Lebanon.
Encounters and Delegation
The Pope follows "in the footsteps of his predecessors" (St Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis).
Private Meetings: Pope Leo XIV will hold private meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Accompanying Cardinals: The Pope will be accompanied by Cardinals Kurt Koch, George Koovakad, and Claudio Gugerotti.
Communication: The Pope will speak primarily in English for institutional events and French for liturgies. A press conference is customary on the return flight.
This pilgrimage is intended to be a voice of peace, unity, and hope at the heart of the Middle East.
| FULL ITINERARY of POPE LEO XIV to TURKEY and LEBANON Thursday 27 November 2025 ROMA – ANKARA – ISTANBUL 07:40 Departure by airplane from Rome/Fiumicino International Airport to Ankara 12:30 Arrival at Esenboğa International Airport in Ankara OFFICIAL WELCOME 13:30 VISIT TO THE ATATÜRK MAUSOLEUM 14:10 WELCOME CEREMONY at the Presidential Palace 14:40 VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC 15:30 MEETING WITH THE AUTHORITIES, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS 17:20 Departure from Ankara 17:35 Departure by airplane from Esenboğa International Airport to Istanbul 19:00 Arrival at Atatürk Airport in Istanbul Friday 28 November 2025 ISTANBUL – İZNIK – ISTANBUL 09:30 MEETING WITH BISHOPS, PRIESTS, DEACONS, CONSECRATED PERSONS AND PASTORAL WORKERS at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit 10:40 VISIT TO THE NURSING HOME OF THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR 14:15 Transfer by helicopter to İznik 15:30 ECUMENICAL PRAYER SERVICE near the archaeological excavations of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos 16:30 Transfer by helicopter to Istanbul 18:30 PRIVATE MEETING WITH BISHOPS in the Apostolic Delegation Saturday 29 November 2025 ISTANBUL 09:00 VISIT TO THE SULTAN AHMED MOSQUE 09:45 PRIVATE MEETING WITH THE LEADERS OF THE LOCAL CHURCHES AND CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem 15:30 DOXOLOGY in the Patriarchal Church of Saint George 15:50 MEETING WITH HIS HOLINESS BARTHOLOMEW I AND SIGNING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION in the Patriarchal Palace 17:00 HOLY MASS in the “Volkswagen Arena” Sunday 30 November 2025 ISTANBUL – BEIRUT 09:30 PRAYER VISIT AT THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CATHEDRAL 10:30 DIVINE LITURGY at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George 12:30 ECUMENICAL BLESSING 13:00 LUNCH WITH HIS HOLINESS BARTHOLOMEW I at the Ecumenical Patriarchate 14:15 FAREWELL CEREMONY at Atatürk Airport in Istanbul 14:45 Departure by airplane from Atatürk Airport to Beirut 15:45 Arrival at Beirut International Airport WELCOME CEREMONY 16:45 COURTESY VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC at the Presidential Palace 17:15 MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 17:30 MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER 18:00 MEETING WITH THE AUTHORITIES, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS Monday 1 December 2025 BEIRUT – ANNAYA – HARISSA – BKERKÉ 09:45 VISIT AND PRAYER AT THE TOMB OF SAINT CHARBEL MAKLŪF at the Monastery of Saint Maroun in Annaya 11:20 MEETING WITH BISHOPS, PRIESTS, CONSECRATED PERSONS AND PASTORAL WORKERS at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa 12:30 PRIVATE MEETING WITH CATHOLIC PATRIARCHS in the Apostolic Nunciature 16:00 ECUMENICAL AND INTERRELIGIOUS MEETING in the Martyrs’ Square in Beirut 17:45 MEETING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE in the square in front of the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch in Bkerké Tuesday 2 December 2025 BEIRUT – JAL ED DIB – ROMA 08:30 VISIT TO THE STAFF AND PATIENTS OF THE “DE LA CROIX” HOSPITAL in Jal Ed Dib 09:30 SILENT PRAYER AT THE SITE OF THE BEIRUT PORT EXPLOSION 10:30 HOLY MASS at the “Beirut Waterfront” 12:45 FAREWELL CEREMONY at Beirut International Airport 13:15 Departure by plane from Beirut International Airport to Rome 16:10 Arrival at Rome/Fiumicino International Airport |
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