ROME — Pope Leo XIV will travel to Lebanon and Turkey next month on his first foreign trip as pontiff, with a visit to the site of the 2020 Beirut port explosion set as one of the most solemn moments of his journey.
The Vatican released the itinerary for the Nov. 27 to Dec. 2 trip on Monday, which will focus on interfaith dialogue, Christian unity, and peace in the Middle East. The visit will also mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, Christianity’s first ecumenical council.
The Beirut stop will include prayers at the site of the devastating port explosion that killed more than 200 people and wounded thousands in August 2020. The blast, caused by improperly stored ammonium nitrate, leveled much of the Lebanese capital and deepened the country’s political and economic crisis.
Pope Francis had long hoped to visit Lebanon but was unable to do so before his death earlier this year. Pope Francis, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, pledged to continue Pope Leo’s efforts to strengthen relations with the Orthodox Church and to support Christians in the Middle East.
In Turkey, Leo will meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual head of Orthodox Christianity. The two will lead prayers in İznik, the modern site of ancient Nicaea, near the archaeological remains of the Basilica of Saint Neophytos.
The pope will also visit the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Istanbul on November 30, a gesture of outreach to the Armenian community. The visit comes a decade after Pope Francis angered Ankara by describing the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as “the first genocide of the 20th century.”
Historians estimate that as many as 1.5 million Armenians were killed during World War I. Turkey continues to reject the term “genocide,” insisting the deaths occurred amid civil unrest. Observers are watching closely to see whether Leo will repeat Francis’ controversial characterization.
Leo’s schedule also includes meetings with Lebanese and Turkish officials, Mass celebrations, and encounters with clergy. However, his itinerary notably excludes Lebanon’s southern region, which suffered heavy damage in last year’s conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
In Istanbul, Leo will pray at the Blue Mosque but will not visit Hagia Sophia, the iconic former basilica turned mosque. The monument’s reclassification as a mosque in 2020 drew criticism from Pope Francis, who said he was “deeply pained” by the decision.
The trip, combining prayer, diplomacy, and remembrance, will mark an early test of Pope Leo’s leadership on the world stage as he seeks to promote unity and hope amid regional conflict and crisis.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
