Pope Leo XIV, who was elected as the spiritual leader of the Catholics about six months ago, is set to make his first foreign visit to Turkey. The details of his journey in Turkey, which will commence with a visit to Anıtkabir, have also been revealed. In commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, the Pope will also be traveling to İznik. Moreover, he will preside over the mass at the Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul.
Source: NTV
According to a report featured on NTV, the Pope's visit to Turkey will commence at Anıtkabir. Subsequently, an official welcoming ceremony will be held at Beştepe, followed by a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. On the same day, the Pope will wrap up his engagements in Ankara and then proceed to Istanbul.
This year marks the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a significant event in Christianity. After his activities in Istanbul, the Pope will visit the remains of the Basilica of Saint Neophytos on Friday, which has been concealed under the waters of Lake Iznik for many years. He will conduct a ceremony at the archaeological site.
Upon his return to Istanbul, he will engage in a private meeting with the bishops. Like his predecessors, Pope Leo is set to visit the Sultanahmet Mosque on Saturday morning. Following this, he will make his way to the Mor Efrem Syriac Ancient Orthodox Church in Yeşilköy. There, he will convene with representatives of the church and Christian communities.
His next stop will be the Fener Greek Patriarchate. Leo will hold talks with Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos. Both religious leaders will sign a joint statement. On the same day, Pope Leo will preside over a mass at the Volkswagen Arena, which thousands are expected to attend. On the final day of his visit, Pope Leo will participate in the mass at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral.
In honor of the founding date of the Fener Greek Patriarchate, Leo will once again visit the Patriarchate and share a midday meal with Patriarch Bartholomeos.