Pope Leo XIV (@Vatican Media)
From Nicea to the Port of Beirut: Pope Leo's schedule for
Türkiye and Lebanon
Pope Leo XIV prepares to visit Türkiye and Lebanon next
month, 27 November – 2 December 2025, which will be the first Apostolic Journey
outside of the Italy of his pontificate.
By Christopher Wells
Pope Leo XIV’s first Apostolic Journey outside of Italy will
see the Holy Father travelling to Türkiye and Lebanon next month, 27 November –
2 December 2025, on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the First Council
of Nicea.
Türkiye
On Monday, the Holy See released the schedule for the pope’s
Journey, which will begin in Türkiye on 27 November. Upon his arrival in the
capital, Ankara, the Holy Father will meet with the nation’s President, Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, before addressing Turkish authorities, representatives of civil
society, and members of the diplomatic corps. At the end of the day, the Pope
will travel by plane from Ankara to Istanbul, Türkiye’s largest city.
During his first full day in Türkiye, Friday 28 November,
Pope Leo will meet with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons and
pastoral workers at Istanbul’s Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. Later in the
morning, he will visit the nursing home of the Little Sisters of the Poor.
After a short helicopter flight to Nicea – modern İznik –
the Holy Father will participate in an ecumenical prayer service near the
archaeological excavations of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos.
Returning that same day to Istanbul, the Pope will meet with
bishops in the Apostolic Delegation.
On Saturday, 29 November, Pope Leo will begin his day with a
visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque – the famous “Blue Mosque” before meeting
privately with leaders of the local churches and Christian communities at the
Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem.
In the afternoon, he will take part in a Doxology at the
Patriarchal Church of Saint George, the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of
Constantinople. Following the service, Pope Leo XIV with meet with Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew I, with the two leaders signing a Joint Declaration in
the Patriarchal Palace.
The day will conclude with Holy Mass celebrated in
Istanbul’s Volkswagen Arena.
The Holy Father’s schedule for Sunday, 30 November – the
feast of St Andrew the Apostle – begins with a prayer visit to the Armenian
Apostolic Cathedral.
Later that morning, Pope Leo will attend a Divine Liturgy at
the Patriarchal Church of Saint George. Following an ecumenical blessing at the
conclusion of the liturgy, the Pope will have lunch with Ecumenical Patriarch.
Lebanon
In the afternoon, after a farewell ceremony at Istanbul’s
Atatürk Airport, Pope Leo XIV with begin the second leg of his Apostolic
Journey by flying to Beirut, Lebanon. Upon his arrival, the Pope will meet with
hold separate meetings with the President of the Republic, the President of the
National Assembly, and the Prime Minister of Lebanon. He will then give his
customary address to Lebanese authorities, representatives of civil society,
and members of the diplomatic corps.
Pope Leo has a busy day on Monday, 1 December, beginning
with a visit to the tomb of St Charbel Maklūf at the Monastery of Saint Maroun
in Annaya. From there, he travels to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in
Harissa, where he will meet with bishops, priests, consecrated persons and
pastoral workers. The morning concludes with a private meeting with Catholic
Patriarchs in the Apostolic Nunciature.
In the afternoon, Pope Leo will hold an ecumenical and
interreligious meeting in Martyrs’ Square in Beirut. Later, in the square in
front of the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch in Bkerké, Pope Leo will meet
with young people of Lebanon.
The final day of the Pope’s Apostolic Journey, Tuesday, 2
December, will see the Holy Father visiting staff members and patients of the
De La Croix Hospital in Jal Ed Dib. Pope Leo will then have the opportunity for
silent prayer at the site of the Beirut Port explosion, which occurred in 2020.
The Holy Father will then celebrate Holy Mass at the Beirut
Waterfront, the final major event of the journey to Lebanon.
Pope Leo is scheduled to depart from Beirut Tuesday
afternoon, with a scheduled arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport
shortly after 4 pm.
Further details of the schedule for Pope Leo XIV’s
Apostolic Journey to Türkiye and Lebanon can be found on the website of the Holy See Press Office.
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