he Pope Leo XIV Traveling this Thursday to Türkiye To begin the first international tour of his papacy, a visit that includes a meeting with the president Recep Tayyip Erdogan It is developing in the context of regional tensions. The itinerary adds a second stage in Lebanon It begins in Ankara, where the American Pope will arrive shortly after noon.
The Vatican confirmed that the Pope will address the Turkish authorities, representatives of civil society and the diplomatic corps before traveling to Istanbul in the afternoon. According to the official program, more than 80 journalists are accompanying the Pope on his plane, confirming the media expectations generated by his first international trip since his election in May as leader of 1.4 billion Catholics.
Leo XIVHe is the first pope born in the United States, and since his election he has been distinguished by maintaining frequent contacts with the press. In a gesture aimed at broadening the scope of her communications, all planned interventions during this tour will be conducted in English, his mother tongue, instead of the Italian language he usually uses in the Vatican.
In Türkiye, where Christians represent only 0.1% of the population of 86 million, the Pope will focus his first message on The importance of dialogue with Islam. Vatican sources indicated that the Pope will seek to address the regional situation characterized by conflicts in the Middle East.
Upon assuming office, Leo XIV requested the promotion of peace “demilitarized and demilitarized”This is an expression that was repeated in his subsequent speeches as an indication of the necessity of peaceful solutions in crisis areas.
The meeting with Erdogan will be held at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, a complex that symbolizes the country’s political power. However, it has not been confirmed whether the Pope will mention sensitive topics such as the human rights situation, the detention of opponents, or the conditions of Christian minorities who still face difficulties related to inequality and exclusion processes.
Within the institutional agenda, Leo XIV will also visit the shrine Mustafa Kemal AtaturkFounder of the Turkish Republic, and is considered a symbol of the secular state. This honor comes within the protocol for heads of state and international leaders who travel to Ankara.
The visit, on Friday, will take on a religious character as it commemorates the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, which was held in the year 325 and is responsible for the doctrine that still constitutes a doctrinal pillar of Christianity. The Pope will attend the prayer he called for Bartholomew IPatriarch of Constantinople and principal leader of the Orthodox Churches. The event was initially scheduled to be attended by former Pope Francis, who died in April.
Leo XIV stressed the ecumenical importance of this meeting. “Bartholomew and I have met several times, and I believe this will be an exceptional opportunity to promote unity among all Christians.”The Pope told reporters on Tuesday. Divisions between Catholics and Orthodox go back to the schism of 1054, and the war in Ukraine deepened the rift between the patriarchates of Moscow and Constantinople.
The journey continues on Sunday to Lebanon, a country with diverse religious traditions that has been facing a severe economic and political crisis since 2019. In recent days, Lebanese territory has witnessed bombardment from Israel despite a previously declared cessation of hostilities.
With this tour, Leo XIV becomes the fifth Pope to visit Türkiye, following in the footsteps of Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis.
(Information from Agence France-Presse)