Key Moments from Pope Leo XIV's Historic 1st Apostolic Journey to Turkiye and Lebanon as Messenger of Peace and Unity!


🕊️  Pope Leo XIV's Historic First Journey: Unity and Peace in Türkiye and Lebanon!

Pope Leo XIV's first Apostolic Journey abroad from November 27–December 2, 2025, kicked off in Türkiye with a mission of unity and peace. This leg of the trip was heavily focused on bridging the gap between East and West, a powerful statement in a region marked by history and current conflict.

SEE Our FULL Coverage of the Pope's Visit to Turkiye and Lebanon https://www.catholicnewsworld.com/search/label/Pope%20Leo%20XIV%20in%20Turkiye%20and%20Lebanon

Here are the key events that captivated the world:

🙏 Ankara: Calls for Peace on the Global Stage

The journey began in the capital, Ankara, where the Pope was given a formal state welcome, complete with a cavalry escort and a 21-cannon salute outside the Presidential Palace.


  • Political Address: In his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Pope Leo XIV spoke firmly against global conflicts, warning that the world was fighting a "third world war... fought piecemeal." He called on world leaders to reject power politics and prioritize peace.

  • A Nod to Modern Türkiye: The Pontiff started his visit by laying a wreath at the Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the secular Turkish Republic. This gesture acknowledged the modern identity of the nation.

🤝Iznik: A 1,700-Year Milestone for Christian Unity

The defining moment of the Turkey visit was the pilgrimage to Iznik (ancient Nicaea), a small city southeast of Istanbul.

  • Ecumenical Commemoration: Pope Leo XIV joined Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and other Christian leaders to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325). This historic council is where early churchmen formulated the Nicene Creed—the statement of faith accepted by Catholics, Orthodox, and most Protestants.


  • Prayer for Unity: The ecumenical prayer service was held amid the archaeological excavations of the ancient Basilica of St. Neophytus, which is believed to be near the council site. The event underscored the Pope's desire to heal the ancient schism between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

Istanbul: Interreligious Dialogue and the "Logic of Littleness"

In the historic city of Istanbul, the Pope engaged with both the majority Muslim community and the tiny Catholic "little flock."

  • Muslim-Catholic Relations: Pope Leo XIV visited the majestic Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque), marking his first visit to a Muslim place of worship as Pontiff. This significant interreligious gesture emphasized mutual respect and dialogue.

  • Encouraging the Local Church: Meeting with local clergy at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, the Pope encouraged the Catholic community—which makes up a tiny fraction of the Turkish population—to embrace the "logic of littleness," seeing strength in their authentic Christian witness rather than being discouraged by their small numbers.

Pope Leo XIV's time in Türkiye set a clear tone for his papacy, emphasizing Christian unity, interreligious dialogue, and a passionate appeal for global peace from one of the world's geopolitical crossroads.

🕊️ A Pilgrim of Hope: Pope Leo XIV's Historic Journey to Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV's recent trip to Lebanon—the final leg of his first Apostolic Journey—was far more than a diplomatic tour. It was a powerful pilgrimage of hope, justice, and interfaith fraternity for a nation reeling from crises. Over three impactful days (November 30–December 2, 2025), the pontiff delivered a message of resilience, urging the Lebanese to rise above their political and ethnic divisions.

Here are the key, unforgettable moments from his visit:

🤝Visit to the Tomb of Miraculous Saint Charbel

Pope Leo XIV made a historic visit to the tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf at the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya, Lebanon, becoming the first pontiff to pray at the resting place of the 19th-century Maronite hermit, who is revered by both Christians and Muslims. Kneeling in silence, the Pope later delivered an address where he reflected on St. Charbel's life of prayer, silence, and simplicity as a model for modern Christians.

Amid Lebanon's ongoing political and economic crises, Pope Leo formally entrusted "the needs of the Church, Lebanon and the world" to the saint's intercession, imploring peace for the nation and the entire Levant, while stressing that true peace requires a "conversion of hearts." The deeply symbolic pilgrimage, which included the presentation of a votive lamp, served as a powerful message of solidarity, hope, and support for the crisis-hit country and its resilient Christian community.

💔 A Plea for Justice at the Beirut Port

The most emotional and defining event of the trip was the Pope's visit to the site of the devastating 2020 Beirut port explosion.

  • Silent Prayer: Pope Leo XIV paused for silent prayer at the monument to the dead, a poignant moment amidst the scorched ruins and the skeletal remains of the grain silo, a stark symbol of national trauma and the ongoing demand for accountability.

  • Meeting the Families: In a deeply moving encounter, he met and personally embraced the families of the more than 220 victims, who still carry the pain and the unfulfilled thirst for truth and justice. His presence gave a profound international voice to their struggle.


Encounter with Over 15,000 Energetic Youth

Pope Leo XIV's meeting with an enthusiastic crowd of over 15,000 young people at the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch in Bkerké, Lebanon, was a powerful message of hope and reconciliation for a nation suffering from economic collapse, conflict, and social injustice. The Pontiff, on his first international trip, urged the Lebanese, Syrian, and Iraqi youth not to succumb to discouragement, emphasizing that they are the "present" and have "time to dream, to plan, and to do good."

After hearing poignant testimonies, including stories of interfaith solidarity and resilience in the face of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, the Pope challenged them to cultivate authentic, selfless love—a force he called the "true opposition to evil"—and to be peacemakers rooted in Christ. He compared them to the deeply rooted Lebanese cedars, assuring them that their strength lies in their faith and commitment to service, even as he implicitly urged Christians not to abandon the country.

🙏 Mass on the Waterfront: A Call to Unity

Capping off his visit, Pope Leo XIV celebrated a massive open-air Mass at the Beirut Waterfront, drawing an estimated 150,000 faithful.

  • Homily's Core Message: Directly addressing the nation's struggles—from economic collapse to political paralysis and fear of renewed conflict—he urged the crowds not to be paralyzed by powerlessness.

  • "Lebanon, Stand Up!": The Pope delivered a stirring call for national unity, imploring the Lebanese to "cast off the armour of our ethnic and political divisions" and reawaken the dream of a country where "peace and justice reign." He asked Lebanon to be a "prophetic sign of peace for the whole of the Levant."


🤝 Interreligious & Ecumenical Encounters

Throughout his journey, Pope Leo XIV strongly affirmed Lebanon's unique role as a model of coexistence in the Middle East.

  • Martyrs’ Square Gathering: He participated in a significant ecumenical and interreligious gathering in Martyrs' Square, meeting with leaders from various Christian patriarchates and Muslim communities.

  • Spiritual Stops: The Pontiff traveled north to visit the Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf at the Monastery of St. Maroun, a saint revered by both Christians and Muslims, and also visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa. These stops underscored the nation's deep-rooted spiritual heritage.

🏥 Care for the Vulnerable

Demonstrating the Church's dedication to social justice, the Pope opened his final day with an important visit.

  • De La Croix ((Jal ed Dib)


  •  Hospital: He made an emotional stop at the De La Croix hospital, which specializes in the care of people with psychological and physical disabilities. He stressed the vital importance of not forgetting the "most fragile" members of society, warning against the "false myths of well-being" that ignore poverty and vulnerability.

📢 Farewell Appeal for Peace

As he departed, Pope Leo XIV left the Lebanese people with a powerful, final appeal to leaders in the region: "Listen to the cry of your peoples who are calling for peace!" He emphasized that armed struggle yields no benefit and that the path forward must be "negotiation, mediation and dialogue."

The visit was a profound spiritual embrace for a troubled nation, reasserting the Vatican's enduring commitment to the Lebanese people.

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