Pope Leo to visit Turkey and Lebanon
This was reported by Reuters.
The Pope will deliver his first speeches to foreign governments and visit several "sensitive" cultural sites from November 27 to December 2. His predecessor, Pope Francis, had planned to visit both countries but was unable to do so due to deteriorating health; he died on April 21, and Pope Leo was elected on May 8.
Experts note that the Pontiff's first foreign trip is "an opportunity to capture and hold the world's attention," and for Pope Leo, it will be crucial to "connect with a wider audience, in a region where war and peace, humanitarian needs and interfaith dialogue are crucial issues."
From November 27 to 30, Leo will visit Turkey, where he will participate in a series of joint events with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
In Lebanon, which has the largest percentage of Christians in the Middle East, peace is expected to be a key theme. Against the backdrop of Israel's recent strikes on Beirut that killed a senior Hezbollah commander, Lebanese leaders hope the visit will draw international attention to the country that hosts a million Syrian and Palestinian refugees and is still struggling to recover after years of economic crisis.
Traveling abroad has become a major part of the modern papacy. Pope Francis made 47 international visits in 12 years, often attracting global attention with his unexpected statements. In contrast, Pope Leo is more reserved and cautious in his remarks, having given only one exclusive interview in his six months as pope.
During his visit to Turkey, Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew will celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. Although relations between the Orthodox and Catholic churches have generally strengthened their ties since the schism of 1054, the Moscow Patriarchate, which severed ties with Bartholomew in 2018 and is closely associated with Vladimir Putin, is not expected to participate.
While in Turkey, Leo will also visit the famous Blue Mosque in Istanbul for the first time as pope and celebrate a Catholic Mass at the Volkswagen Arena, which can accommodate thousands of people.
In Lebanon, he will pray at the site of the 2020 chemical explosion at the Beirut port, meet with representatives from various religious groups, and celebrate Mass on the Beirut waterfront. However, the pope will not travel to the south of the country, which is currently the target of Israeli strikes.
