Pope Leo XIV travelled to Turkey and Lebanon on his first foreign apostolic visit recently, with the aim of bridging faith, history, and hope for Middle Eastern peace. Speaking to the media aboard the papal plane departing Rome for Ankara, he said that the trip had the very meaning of unity and that it marked the celebration of 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea.
His first stop in Turkey was Ankara, where he addressed the diplomatic corps, civil society and government officials. Speaking to them, he said that Turkey, a land strongly linked with the origins of Christianity, called the children of Abraham and all humanity to a sense of fraternity that recognised and appreciated differences.
He stressed that Turkey’s rich cultural, artistic and spiritual heritage showed how great civilisations were formed when various traditions converged. Leo XIV later met representatives of Eastern Christianity in Istanbul and signed a joint proclamation with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. After attending Mass at the Volkswagen Arena, he entered the ancient Blue Mosque in silence and contemplation.
During a prayer meeting with clergy and pastoral workers at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, he said that the profound roots of Christianity in Anatolia demonstrated how this “holy land” was where the story of the Israelites encountered the beginnings of Christianity.
The Pope then flew to Beirut. Stressing on the beatitude “Blessed are the peacemakers” as the theme of the journey, he told civil and religious authorities, members of civil society and the diplomatic corps that peace in Lebanon was far more than a mere word; he described it as a desire, a vocation, a gift, and an ongoing work in a country renowned for its diversity and suffering.
At an ecumenical and interreligious gathering of Christians, Muslims, Druze and others in Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square, Pope Leo said he was deeply moved and grateful to stand among them in what he described as a blessed land, exalted by the prophets of the Old Testament and one where the echo of the Logos had never fallen silent.
He stressed the need for dialogue, understanding, and solidarity among followers of different religions and urged all participants to build camaraderie that rose above differences. During a visit to the tomb of Saint Charbel Maklūf at the Monastery of Saint Maroun in Annaya, he reflected on the austere beauty and monastic spirit of the place.
He also addressed the youth, greeting them with “Assalamu lakum! Peace be with you!”—which he used to express his hope that their zeal and faith would help rebuild the future of Lebanon. During this encounter, he also welcomed refugees from Syria and Iraq as well as Lebanese youth who had returned from abroad.
During his visit to the “De La Croix” Hospital at Jal el-Dib, he told patients and hospital staff that Jesus dwelled in that place—in the sick and in those who cared for them—and assured them that they remained in his heart and prayers.
He then offered a silent prayer at the site of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, expressing support for the victims and their families. Later, at his farewell ceremony at Beirut International Airport, the Pope reflected that departing was often more difficult than arriving. He remarked that although they had spent meaningful time together, leaving Lebanon meant carrying its people in his heart, and that they would therefore move forward together despite the physical parting.
He reaffirmed his hope that those who saw each other as adversaries might embrace a spirit of fraternity and commit themselves to peace. The Pope’s journey symbolised a pilgrimage to ancient Christian roots in Turkey, constructive engagement with Muslim and Christian communities, prayer for Lebanon’s suffering population, and public appeals for unity. The Pope explained on his return flight to Rome that the trip was meant to demonstrate how important peace was worldwide and to invite people everywhere to come together despite differences of religion and belief.
Ultimately, this journey stands as a powerful example of faith rooted in history—a faith that embraces human suffering, reaches across religions and cultures, and calls for peace, dignity, and brotherhood in regions marked by fragility.
