The Pope's Turkey itinerary has been announced

The details of the official visit to Turkey by Pope Leo XIV, the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church and Head of State of the Vatican, have been announced. In a statement released by the Vatican Press Office, it was noted that the Pope will hold meetings in three different cities between November 27 and 29.

The visit will be the first foreign trip Pope Leo XIV has undertaken since his election.

IT WILL BEGIN WITH OFFICIAL MEETINGS IN ANKARA

Pope Leo XIV will arrive in the capital, Ankara, on the morning of November 27. As part of the program, he will hold meetings with officials of the Republic of Turkey. He is scheduled to travel to Istanbul on the evening of the same day.

1700TH ANNIVERSARY CEREMONY IN IZNIK

The most significant stop of the visit will be the Iznik program on November 28. Pope Leo XIV will attend a commemorative ceremony organized for the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, where the fundamental principles of Christianity were established.

With this event, the Pope will also be fulfilling a visit to Turkey that his predecessor, Pope Francis, had planned but was unable to carry out.

On November 29, the final day of the visit, Pope Leo XIV will participate in a series of spiritual and cultural events in Istanbul. The day's first program will begin with a visit to the Sultanahmet Mosque. Following this, he is scheduled to meet with religious leaders from various Christian denominations.

The Pope will conclude his visit to Turkey with a large public mass to be held at the Volkswagen Arena.

HE WILL FULFILL HIS PREDECESSOR'S WISH

Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2024, had expressed his desire to visit Turkey for the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea while he was in office.

Pope Leo XIV, who was elected as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church on May 8, confirmed this plan in a statement to journalists on May 12, stating, "I am aware of this, and we are preparing."

News Source: 12punto