Pope Leo XIV's Upcoming Visit to Turkey and Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on his first international trip as pontiff on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2025, traveling to Turkey and Lebanon for a six-day tour. This visit is particularly significant as it marks the first time a pope from the United States will engage with a region historically central to Christianity and currently facing religious and political tensions.

The Pope will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, as well as various religious leaders, to address important issues regarding interfaith dialogue and regional stability.

His itinerary includes visits to hospitals and a Mass at an arena in Istanbul, along with a service at the port in Beirut, which was devastated by a massive explosion in 2020. The choice of Turkey and Lebanon reflects the Pope's intent to foster bridges between different Christian denominations, particularly in a region long marked by divisions between Catholic and Orthodox faiths.

Scholars, like Fiona McCallum Guiney, emphasize that this trip aims not only to honor the historical significance of these locations but also to convey a message of peace and cooperation among faiths in the present and future.

This visit is expected to test Pope Leo's diplomatic skills and may influence the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, as he seeks to rally Christians and promote a call for peace, a theme he highlighted in his first address as Pope in May.

This journey underscores a broader commitment to addressing the challenges faced by Christian communities in a region often beset by conflict and division, and the Pope's actions may very well shape the discourse surrounding faith and politics in the area moving forward.