Türkiye is finalising security, ceremonial and archaeological preparations for Pope Leo XIV’s first foreign trip, a six-day visit beginning on Thursday that will mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and deepen Catholic–Orthodox dialogue.
Pope Leo, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, will arrive in Ankara on Thursday for the start of a visit that spans the capital, Istanbul and the north-western city of Iznik before continuing to Lebanon on Sunday. It will be the fifth papal visit to Türkiye, following trips by Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis.
In Ankara, the pontiff will lay a wreath at the Atatürk Mausoleum before talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential Palace. He will address officials, diplomats and civil-society representatives prior to flying to Istanbul.
His Istanbul programme includes meetings with Catholic clergy at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, a visit to the Little Sisters of the Poor, and a stop at the Blue Mosque — echoing Pope Francis’s 2014 silent prayer there. Pope Leo will then meet Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George, where the two leaders are expected to sign a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to Christian unity. He will join the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Saint Andrew on Saturday.
A public Mass at the Volkswagen Arena, prepared to host up to 100,000 attendees, is set to be the largest gathering of the visit, with media from about 50 countries covering the event, organisers said.
The most symbolically charged moments are expected in Iznik, ancient Nicaea, where an underwater basilica — thought by some scholars to be linked to the First Council of 325 AD — has been readied by a 60-member archaeological team. The submerged Basilica of Saint Neophytos, granted museum status, has undergone conservation work including the restoration of 37 graves. Pope Leo will join an ecumenical prayer service there on Friday alongside an estimated 2,000 clergy from multiple Christian traditions.
Archaeologist Prof Mustafa Şahin said “even a single stone here holds great meaning for Christians,” highlighting the site’s resonance for visitors.
Authorities have introduced extensive security measures across all three cities. The Turkish National Police and Vatican security have coordinated screening and emergency plans, particularly for the Istanbul Mass. Transport and accommodation arrangements have been expanded for visiting delegations.
Türkiye’s roughly 36,000-strong Catholic community has welcomed the visit. The Apostolic Vicar of Istanbul said the Pope’s arrival would be met with “profound joy,” noting the country’s preparations mirrored those made for Pope Francis in 2014. Catholics in Türkiye make up less than 1 % of a population of nearly 85 million.
The Turkey–Lebanon itinerary, running until 2 December, signals the pontiff’s early prioritisation of ecumenical reconciliation and Middle Eastern engagement. The Vatican says the trip will foreground challenges facing Christian communities and the need for strengthened religious freedom across the region.
Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela has secured a fourth successive election victory for his Labour Party, extending its hold on power, though with ...
Nicaraguan indigenous leader and former lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera has died in state custody at the age of 73, according to local media reports citing h...
At least 46 people, including six children, have been killed in a powerful explosion at a building used to store mining explosives in northeastern Mya...
Thousands of residents blocked Austria’s Brenner motorway on Saturday (30 May), shutting down a major north-south transport route through the Alps i...
South Africa's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered an unexpected setback after the national team failed to depart for Mexico as sch...
Nicaraguan indigenous leader and former lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera has died in state custody at the age of 73, according to local media reports citing his family.
At least 46 people, including six children, have been killed in a powerful explosion at a building used to store mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar, according to local media reports.
Thousands of residents blocked Austria’s Brenner motorway on Saturday (30 May), shutting down a major north-south transport route through the Alps in protest against persistent congestion from heavy truck traffic and tourism.
South Africa's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered an unexpected setback after the national team failed to depart for Mexico as scheduled on Sunday (31 May) because some players and officials had not yet received their visas.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May), drawing attention from defence observers and regional analysts.
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday (30 May).
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations, citing Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union. The move is seen as the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the longtime allies ahead of Armenia's parliamentary election on 7 June.
Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela has secured a fourth successive election victory for his Labour Party, extending its hold on power, though with a reduced majority compared with previous polls.
Nicaraguan indigenous leader and former lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera has died in state custody at the age of 73, according to local media reports citing his family.
At least 46 people, including six children, have been killed in a powerful explosion at a building used to store mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar, according to local media reports.
South Africa's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered an unexpected setback after the national team failed to depart for Mexico as scheduled on Sunday (31 May) because some players and officials had not yet received their visas.
Five people have died after a mine shaft collapsed during an illegal mining operation in southwestern China, state media reported on Sunday (31 May), just days after the country's deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade claimed at least 82 lives.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment