Pope Leo XIV in Ankara: First Visit in 11 Years

Pope Leo XIV, Head of the Vatican State and leader of the Catholic Church, made his first foreign visit in 11 years to Turkey. Pope Leo began his visit at Anıtkabir, laying a wreath at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and signing the memorial book before heading to the presidential complex.

The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral ties, regional tensions and efforts to promote dialogue among faiths. The Pope will also meet senior officials, civil society representatives and members of the diplomatic corps during his Ankara program. He is scheduled to visit Türkiye’s top religious authority, the Presidency of Religious Affairs, later in the day.

Leo arrived earlier in the morning aboard a special ITA Airways flight, greeting more than 70 journalists accompanying him. Speaking during the flight, he said he hoped the trip would “underline how vital peace is for the entire world.”

“Despite our differences — of faith, tradition or culture — we are all brothers,” he said, calling on people everywhere to unite in the search for peace.

After completing his meetings in the capital, the Pope will travel to Istanbul on Thursday evening. On Friday, he will hold services and meet clergy at the Saint Esprit Cathedral, visit the French Hospital complex, and later fly to İznik to attend a ceremony marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. 

On Saturday, Leo is set to visit Sultanahmet Mosque, the Syriac Orthodox Mor Efrem Church and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, where he will meet Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and issue a joint declaration. His Türkiye trip will conclude on Sunday before he departs for Beirut, the second leg of his regional tour.