Pope Leo XIV greets reporters aboard a flight on his technique to Ankara, Turkey, for a six-day journey to Turkey and Lebanon, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025.
Domenico Stinellis/AP
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Domenico Stinellis/AP
ROME, Italy — Shortly after the aircraft took off from Rome in direction of Ankara, Pope Leo XIV got here to greet the press on board. “Buongiorno a tutti,” he stated. “And to the Individuals right here: comfortable Thanksgiving! It is a fantastic day to rejoice.”
That is the primary overseas journey for Leo, the primary American pope, since he was chosen for the papacy in Could this 12 months. Being confronted with greater than 80 journalists from over 15 international locations, able to report his each phrase and transfer, might appear daunting. However the pope appeared to take the scenario in his stride.
He spoke with enthusiasm about his mission throughout this six day go to to Turkey and Lebanon, wherein he goals to encourage world leaders to decide to attempting to convey peace. “We hope to announce, transmit, proclaim how vital peace is all through the world and to ask all individuals to return collectively to seek for better unity, better concord,” he stated. “And to search for the ways in which all women and men can actually be brothers and sisters regardless of variations, regardless of completely different religions, regardless of completely different beliefs.”
Pope Leo informed the press corps on board the flight that “it is so vital as we speak that the message be transmitted in a approach that actually reveals the reality and the concord that the world wants.”
Pope Leo visits the Center East at a delicate time, as a tenuous ceasefire continues in Gaza after Israel’s devastating offensive there. In the meantime, Lebanon – the following cease for the pope after Turkey – has additionally been blighted by warfare between Israel and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah.
Pope Leo XIV walks as he’s welcomed upon his arrival at Esenboga Worldwide Airport in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, marking the start of his first overseas journey.
Khalil Hamra/AP
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Khalil Hamra/AP
Leo is scheduled to satisfy with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey, and President Joseph Auon in Lebanon. He will even pray at each church buildings and mosques, and sit with leaders of various Christian denominations and completely different faiths together with Muslims and Druze.
In Turkey, he’ll go to the positioning of the Council of Nicaea, the place, 1700 years in the past, the assertion of religion was shaped that’s nonetheless utilized in church by completely different Christian denominations. Leo described the Council of Nicaea as “the very that means of unity”. “I very a lot have been wanting ahead to this journey for what it means for all Christians however it’s additionally an important message to the entire world,” he stated.
After saying these phrases, Pope Leo moved down the aircraft and shook fingers with every journalist. Some members of the press handed him presents to welcome him to his function – these included an icon of the virgin of Guadalupe to recall the years he spent in Latin America, and, on this Thanksgiving, a pumpkin pie.
