Pope Leo XIV's first international apostolic journey opens in Ankara with a gesture of powerful symbolism: a visit to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the "father" of modern Turkey. It marks the beginning of an itinerary that, from today until December 2, will take the Pontiff to Turkey and Lebanon, in the heart of a Mediterranean rife with tensions, open wounds, and yearnings for peace.

This is not simply a journey of protocol or courtesy: it is a pilgrimage that combines historical memory, interreligious dialogue, diplomacy, and concrete support for peoples struggling with political, economic, and social crises. Against this backdrop is a momentous occasion in the history of Christianity: the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, celebrated in 325 AD, which Pope Leo will commemorate in Iznik, the ancient city of Nicaea.

Mattarella's message: "It's time for concrete initiatives for peace."

The significance of the trip was also underlined by the message from the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, addressed to the Pope on the occasion of his departure.

Mattarella first recalls the Mediterranean's historical vocation as a meeting place for civilizations, religions, and cultures: "Interreligious harmony and cultural pluralism have long been fundamental traits of the civilizations that arose along the shores of the Mediterranean, even if we now struggle to remember it."

The Head of State links Pope Leo XIV's visit to a shared responsibility: to transform the desire for peace into tangible action: "It is time that the yearning for peace and stability, shared by all peoples, be translated into concrete initiatives. His presence in Turkey and Lebanon will undoubtedly reinvigorate the cause of unity and human brotherhood."

Mattarella emphasizes the ecumenical and interreligious significance of the papal itinerary: the visit to Nicaea, the celebrations for the Ecumenical Council, the meetings with the leaders of the Churches and religious communities. On these pillars, he writes, "the prospects for peaceful coexistence among peoples find a solid foundation."

The President also emphasizes the connection with the Christian roots in those lands: "During his journey, he will visit lands where the Church has an ancient and still lively presence, where, over the centuries, different peoples and cultures have met and interacted in a process of mutual enrichment."

Words that end with a certainty: wherever Pope Leo XIV goes, his presence will comfort "women and men of good will, who reject violence and oppression."

The takeoff from Rome and the telegram to the Quirinale

The journey begins on the morning of November 27, departing from Rome's Fiumicino Airport at 7:40 a.m. On board, along with Pope Leo, are 81 journalists, cameramen, and photographers from international media.

As per tradition, shortly after takeoff, the Pontiff sent a telegram to the President of the Republic: "As I prepare to undertake my apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon to meet those peoples, especially brothers and sisters in faith, encouraging paths of peace and brotherhood, I am pleased to extend to you, Mr. President, and to the Italian nation my cordial greetings, which I accompany with fervent wishes for the spiritual, civil, and social progress of beloved Italy."

The Pope in flight: "A message of unity and peace for the entire world"

During the flight, twenty minutes after takeoff, Pope Leo XIV stands up in front of the gray curtain separating his area from the cabin and addresses the journalists. He smiles, his tone firm, but a hint of emotion is evident: it is his first international trip as Pope.

At the center, the word "peace," repeated several times: "We hope to announce, convey, and proclaim how important peace is throughout the world. Beyond different religions, different beliefs, we are all brothers and sisters."

Arrival in Ankara: official ceremonies and visit to the Atatürk Mausoleum

The papal plane lands at Ankara's Esenboğa International Airport at 10:22 a.m. (Rome time). A Turkish government minister welcomes the Pope, accompanied by two children in traditional dress who offer him flowers: a simple gesture, yet one full of human warmth.

After the delegations' introductions and passing before the Honor Guard, a brief meeting at the State Guest House marks the official start of the visit. Then comes one of the most solemn moments of the day: a stop at the Atatürk Mausoleum.

Along Lion's Road, the broad, monumental avenue leading to the complex, the Pope advances accompanied by authorities. He lays a wreath, a tribute to the founder of the Turkish Republic, and proceeds to the Misak-i Milli Tower to sign the Book of Honor. The message he leaves is concise and clear: "I thank God for having been able to visit Turkey and I invoke upon this country and its people an abundance of peace and prosperity."

A visit to Atatürk's Mausoleum is not merely a formal act: it is a recognition of the historical role of modern Turkey and a sign of respect for a secular state that is nevertheless home to key sites in the history of Christianity.

Meeting with Erdogan: Dialogue on regional stability

After the Mausoleum, the Pontiff proceeds to the Presidential Palace for a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. At the entrance, a cavalry detachment escorts him to the main gate. The President welcomes him with a handshake, while the national anthems of Turkey and the Holy See resound, accompanied by a 21-gun salute.

The presentation of the respective delegations and the official photo follow. The private meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Erdogan, held in the heart of the palace, takes place against a delicate backdrop: at its core are issues of regional stability, the protection of religious minorities, and the role of the Mediterranean in a geopolitical era marked by conflict and migration.

The meeting, beyond the solemn formalities, confirms the Holy See's desire to maintain an open dialogue with Ankara, enhancing every possible opportunity for collaboration in favor of peace and the protection of the most vulnerable communities.

Christian communities in Türkiye: "Small, but like a diamond"

With Istanbul and Iznik on the horizon, attention also turns to the reality of Turkey's Christian communities. Monsignor Massimiliano Palinuro, apostolic vicar of the metropolis on the Bosphorus, recalls that Christians currently represent only 0,6% of the population, but they preserve an ancient tradition.

Turkey is the land of the Apostle Paul, the setting of the first ecumenical councils, the site of Mary's house in Ephesus, and the tombs of the Apostles John and Philip. A geography of memory intertwined with a numerically small but vibrant presence. Palinuro describes it as "like a small seed, a handful of yeast."

An Armenian patriarch, the bishop recounts, told him: “Our communities are small, but like a diamond: precious things are often small.”

It is to these often marginalized communities that the Pope's visit intends to give visibility, encouragement, and dignity.

Iznik and the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea

One of the key moments of the trip to Turkey will be the stop in Iznik, ancient Nicaea, where an ecumenical celebration will be held to mark the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, convened by Emperor Constantine in 325.

Among the ruins of the Basilica of Saint Neophytos, partially submerged after an earthquake and now emerging near the archaeological excavations, Pope Leo XIV will pray together with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and representatives of the Christian Churches. It is a return to the sources of faith, but also a call for reconciliation between the Churches, so that what was once a place of unity may not remain merely a historical memory, but become a new impetus for ecumenical dialogue.

Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Christian communities, and Mass at the Volkswagen Arena

The program in Turkey continues with intense days in Istanbul. The Pope will meet with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, and pastoral workers in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, and will visit the Shelter of the Little Sisters of the Poor, a concrete sign of their care for the elderly and vulnerable.

A visit to the Blue Mosque will be of great symbolic significance. Here, the Pope will participate in a moment of silent prayer, accompanied by the President of Turkey's Religious Affairs: a gesture of respect towards Islam and, at the same time, an invitation to dialogue and mutual understanding.

There will then be a meeting with the heads of the Churches and Christian communities at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem and, subsequently, a meeting and signing of a Joint Declaration with Patriarch Bartholomew in the Patriarchal Church of St. George in the Phanar.

The pastoral culmination will be the Mass at the Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul, where thousands of faithful are expected to pray with the Pontiff.

Wounded Lebanon and the "silent prayer" at the port of Beirut

On the afternoon of November 30, Pope Leo XIV will leave Turkey for Lebanon, arriving in Beirut. He will be welcomed by President Joseph Aoun, National Assembly Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and the Maronite Patriarch.

Lebanon is a country shaken by the economic crisis, political tensions, and the still-fresh trauma of the explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, which killed over 200 people, injured 7.000 others, and left 300.000 citizens homeless.

One of the most powerful moments of the trip will be the "silent prayer" at the site of the explosion. The Pope will meet with some relatives of the victims and survivors, bringing a message of consolation and justice, so that their suffering will not be forgotten and paths of truth and reconstruction can be strengthened.

Young people, interreligious dialogue, and a visit to the hospital

On December 1st, the Pope will participate in an ecumenical and interreligious meeting in Martyrs' Square, a symbolic place in Lebanese history, and will meet with young people in front of the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch in Bkerké. Leo XIV will bring a message of encouragement to young people, often forced to emigrate or live in precarious conditions, urging them not to give up in the face of difficulties.

The next day, before concluding his trip, the Pope will visit the "De La Croix" hospital in Jal ed Dib, one of the largest hospitals for the mentally disabled in the Middle East: a gesture that reaffirms his concern for the most disadvantaged and those living on the margins of society.

The Mass at the Beirut Waterfront, at 10:30 a.m., will be the last major liturgical act of the pilgrimage, before departing for Rome at 1:15 p.m.

A pilgrimage that speaks to the Mediterranean and the world

Pope Leo XIV's journey to Turkey and Lebanon is, at once, memory and prophecy: a memory of Christian roots and the Mediterranean's historic role as a crossroads of peoples; a prophecy of a possible future, founded on dialogue, religious freedom, and brotherhood between different cultures and religions.

Mattarella's words, the Pope's gestures—from the Atatürk Mausoleum to the port of Beirut, from the ruins of Nicaea to the squares of Lebanon—combine a single message: peace is not just a desire, but a responsibility. And the Mediterranean, once a frontier of conflict, can once again become a "sea of ​​closeness" if men and women, believers and non-believers, institutions and religious communities truly choose the path of dialogue and the common good.

In this context, Pope Leo XIV's first international journey presents a powerful sign: a Pontiff who, from the beginning of his ministry, chose to place wounded peripheries, forgotten minorities, and the conviction that, "beyond all differences, we are all brothers and sisters" at the center.