Apostolic Journey to Turkey and Lebanon
27 Nov – 2 Dec 20256days
4cities
4,800km
2countries
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The journey · Türkiye & Lebanon
N
TURKEYLEBANON
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i.AnkaraThu 27 Nov
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Ankara
39.93° N, 32.86° E · stop 1 of 4 · Thu 27 Nov
Turkey's capital city, Ankara was the opening stop of Pope Leo XIV's first apostolic journey in November 2025. The visit included meetings with government authorities and members of the local Christian community, marking the beginning of a trip that combined diplomacy, ecumenism and solidarity with a historically Christian region.
Schedule
Thursday12:30
Arrival in Ankara
Pope Leo XIV arrived at Esenboğa International Airport, beginning his apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon.
Ankara/Esenboğa International Airport
13:30
Visit to the Atatürk Mausoleum
The Pope paid his respects at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey.
Anıtkabir
14:10
Welcome Ceremony
An official welcome ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace in Ankara.
Presidential Palace, Ankara
14:40
Courtesy Visit to President Erdoğan
Pope Leo XIV met privately with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential Palace.
Presidential Palace, Ankara
15:30
Meeting with Authorities, Civil Society and Diplomatic Corps
The Pope addressed Turkish authorities, civil society representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps at the Presidential Palace.
Presidential Palace, Ankara
The journey so far
ii.IstanbulThu 27 Nov – Sun 30 Nov
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Istanbul
41.01° N, 28.98° E · stop 2 of 4 · Thu 27 Nov – Sun 30 Nov
Straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul is home to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople at the Phanar. Pope Leo XIV visited in November 2025 for an ecumenical encounter with Patriarch Bartholomew I, including the feast of the Apostle Andrew and a joint pilgrimage to ancient Nicaea to mark the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council — a landmark moment in Catholic-Orthodox dialogue.
Schedule
ThursdayThu 27 Nov
19:00
Arrival in Istanbul
Pope Leo XIV flew from Ankara to Istanbul and arrived at Atatürk International Airport in the evening.
Istanbul/Atatürk International Airport
FridayFri 28 Nov
09:30
Prayer with Clergy and Religious
The Pope prayed with bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and pastoral workers at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, the main Catholic church in Istanbul.
Cathedral of the Holy Spirit
10:40
Visit to Elderly Care Home
Pope Leo XIV visited elderly residents and the sisters who care for them at the home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Little Sisters of the Poor
15:30
Ecumenical Prayer in İznik
The Pope joined Christian leaders for an ecumenical prayer at the archaeological site of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytus in İznik (ancient Nicaea), where the first two Ecumenical Councils were held.
Site of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytus
SaturdaySat 29 Nov
09:00
Visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque
Pope Leo XIV visited the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, meeting with Muslim religious leaders in a gesture of interreligious respect.
Blue Mosque
09:45
Meeting with Christian Church Leaders
The Pope met with leaders of the various Christian communities of Istanbul at the Mor Efrem Syrian Orthodox Church.
Mor Efrem Syrian Orthodox Church
15:30
Doxology
A solemn Doxology was celebrated at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Saint George Patriarchal Church
15:50
Meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew I
Pope Leo XIV met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Patriarchal Palace. Both leaders signed a joint declaration on Christian unity.
Patriarchal Palace
17:00
Holy Mass
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Holy Mass at the Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul before thousands of Catholic faithful.
Volkswagen Arena
SundaySun 30 Nov
09:30
Prayer at the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchal Cathedral
The Pope visited and prayed at the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchal Cathedral in Istanbul, meeting with the Armenian community.
Armenian Apostolic Patriarchal Cathedral
10:30
Divine Liturgy
Pope Leo XIV attended the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George.
Saint George Patriarchal Church
The journey so far
iii.BeirutSun 30 Nov – Tue 2 Dec
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Beirut
33.89° N, 35.50° E · stop 3 of 4 · Sun 30 Nov – Tue 2 Dec
Lebanon's capital welcomed Pope Leo XIV in December 2025 — the first papal visit since Pope John Paul II in 1997. His message of hope and solidarity came at the invitation of President Joseph Aoun, addressing a nation recovering from years of economic crisis and political instability. The Pope called for unity among Lebanon's diverse communities and renewed international commitment to the country's reconstruction.
Schedule
SundaySun 30 Nov
15:45
Arrival in Beirut
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Beirut after his days in Turkey, receiving an official welcome at the international airport.
Rafic Hariri International Airport
16:45
Courtesy Visit to the President of Lebanon
The Pope paid a courtesy visit to the President of Lebanon at the Presidential Palace in Baabda.
Presidential Palace, Baabda
17:15
Meeting with the President of Parliament
Pope Leo XIV met with the President of the Lebanese Parliament.
Beirut
17:30
Meeting with the Prime Minister
The Pope met with the Prime Minister of Lebanon.
Beirut
18:00
Meeting with Authorities, Civil Society and Diplomatic Corps
Pope Leo XIV addressed Lebanese authorities, civil society representatives, and the diplomatic corps.
Beirut
MondayMon 1 Dec
09:45
Prayer at the Tomb of Saint Charbel
The Pope prayed at the tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf at the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya, paying homage to Lebanon's beloved Maronite mystic.
Monastery of Saint Maron, Annaya
11:20
Meeting with Bishops at Harissa
Pope Leo XIV met with the Patriarchs and Bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa.
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lebanon, Harissa
16:00
Ecumenical and Interreligious Encounter
Christian, Muslim, and Druze religious leaders joined Pope Leo XIV at Martyrs' Square for a historic gathering for peace and coexistence in Lebanon.
Martyrs' Square, Beirut
TuesdayTue 2 Dec
08:30
Visit to the De la Croix Hospital
The Pope visited patients and medical staff at the De la Croix Hospital in Jal ed Dib, run by the Daughters of Charity.
De la Croix Hospital, Jal ed Dib
09:30
Prayer at the Beirut Port Explosion Memorial
Pope Leo XIV stood in silent prayer at the site of the catastrophic August 4, 2020 explosion that killed over 200 people and devastated the city.
Port of Beirut
10:30
Holy Mass
Pope Leo XIV celebrated the concluding Holy Mass of his Lebanese visit on the Beirut Waterfront, gathering faithful from across the country.
Beirut Waterfront
13:15
Departure from Beirut
Pope Leo XIV departed from Beirut International Airport, concluding his apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon.
Rafic Hariri International Airport
The journey so far
iv.BkerkéMon 1 Dec
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Bkerké
33.94° N, 35.58° E · stop 4 of 4 · Mon 1 Dec
The seat of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate, Bkerké is the spiritual heart of Lebanese Christianity. Pope Leo XIV's visit offered a powerful gesture of solidarity with the Maronite community, whose deep historical ties to the Holy See stretch back centuries. The encounter reaffirmed the Catholic Church's commitment to Lebanon's Christian communities amid the country's ongoing challenges.
Schedule
Monday17:45
Encounter with Young People
The Pope met with Lebanese youth at the historic Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerké, the center of Christian identity in Lebanon.
Maronite Patriarchate, Bkerké
The journey so far
i.
The journey so far
AnkaraThu 27 NovVisited
IstanbulThu 27 NovVisited
BeirutSun 30 NovVisited
BkerkéMon 1 DecVisited
“
Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors to Christ.Saint John Paul II · First Homily, 22 October 1978