The Holy See Press Office announced that Pope Leo XIV will make an Apostolic Journey to Türkiye from November 27 to 30, 2025, accepting the invitation of the country’s Head of State and Ecclesiastical Authorities.
The visit will include a pilgrimage to İznik (ancient Nicaea) to mark the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a pivotal event in Church history.
In the same declaration, Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, also confirmed that following his visit to Türkiye, the Pope will travel to Lebanon from November 30 to December 2, 2025, in response to a similar invitation from the country’s civil and religious authorities. The detailed itinerary for both visits will be released at a later date.
A Historic Return to Türkiye
This will be the first papal visit to Türkiye since Pope Francis’s trip in November 2014, when he met with then-President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Patriarch Bartholomew I in Istanbul.
That visit focused on interreligious dialogue, peacebuilding, and Christian-Muslim relations, themes expected to be central again during Pope Leo XIV’s journey.
The First Council of Nicaea, held in 325 AD in what is now İznik, was the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church. Convened by Emperor Constantine, it produced the Nicene Creed, which remains a fundamental statement of Christian faith.
Pope Leo XIV’s pilgrimage will highlight the enduring theological and ecumenical significance of this event, particularly in a time when the Church continues to emphasize synodality and Christian unity.
Deepening Diplomatic and Religious Ties
The relationship between the Holy See and Türkiye has historically been marked by moments of diplomatic prudence and religious dialogue, particularly given Türkiye’s unique position as a secular state with a Muslim majority and its role as the historic seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
The visit is likely to include meetings with Turkish civil authorities, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, and other religious leaders, furthering efforts toward Christian unity and peaceful coexistence.
Observers note that the Pope may address issues of religious freedom, migration, regional conflicts, and interreligious collaboration, topics of great relevance in the Middle East today. Türkiye’s role as a regional crossroads between Europe and Asia gives this visit added geopolitical and pastoral importance.
Visit to Lebanon
The Lebanon leg of the journey will mark Pope Leo XIV’s first visit to the country and comes at a time when Lebanon continues to face economic challenges, political instability, and the impact of regional conflicts.
The Holy See has consistently expressed its closeness to the Lebanese people, emphasizing the country’s unique model of religious coexistence and its importance for Christians in the Middle East.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
