Historic step from the new Pope Leo: First visit to Turkey

The world's eyes were on the Vatican this morning. With a simple ceremony held in St. Peter's Square that brought him into direct contact with the public, the new leader of Catholics, Pope Leo, officially began his tenure. Thousands of people who filled the square from the early hours of the morning watched as the new Pope greeted them from a vehicle that allowed for direct contact with the public, rather than the "popemobile."

FIRST VISIT TO TURKEY

One of the most notable moments of the ceremony was when Pope Leo announced the destination of his first foreign visit. When asked by a journalist about his plans to visit Turkey in reference to the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, the Pope replied, "I am aware of this. We are preparing."

Pope Leo's visit to Turkey on the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which was convened in 325 AD at the call of Roman Emperor Constantine and served as a turning point in the shaping of the Christian faith, carries great historical and religious significance.

SECURITY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL

The Vatican took intensive security measures against potential threats during the historic ceremony. St. Peter's Square was secured with 6,000 additional police officers, snipers, bomb disposal units, and anti-drone systems. Approximately 250,000 people gathered in the square during the mass.

TRADITION MAINTAINED

During his inauguration mass, Pope Leo opted for a simple ceremony, much like his predecessor Francis. Historically, popes would begin their tenure by being crowned with the "triregnum," a triple crown. However, this tradition ended in 1978. Pope Leo continued this approach, holding an inauguration ceremony without a coronation.

Pope Leo is expected to move into the historic Apostolic Palace in the Vatican shortly. This 16th-century structure served as the official residence of popes until 2013. Pope Francis had broken with tradition by choosing to live in the Santa Marta Guesthouse.

The ceremony also drew significant attention in terms of international diplomacy. Ukrainian President Zelensky, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Senator JD Vance and his wife, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney were present at the ceremony. The United Kingdom was represented by Prince Edward.

News Source: 12punto