27.11.2025 11:31
The President of the Vatican State, Pope Leo XIII, has departed from Rome to visit Turkey. During the visit, which will last until Sunday, November 30, the Pope will participate in a special ceremony in Nicaea. Pope Leo XIII's visit to the Basilica of Saint Neophytos could turn this site into a pilgrimage center for Christians.
The first foreign trip of Pope Leo XIII, elected during the Papal Election in May in the Catholic Church, covering Turkey and Lebanon, began today.
Pope Leo XIII, who is visiting Turkey as the official guest of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will first hold official meetings in the capital, Ankara. The Pope departed this morning at 07:40 local time (09:40 TRT) from Rome International Leonardo da Vinci Airport (Fiumicino) on a special plane allocated by ITA Airways, which bears the Papal coat of arms.
OVER 70 JOURNALISTS WILL FOLLOW THE VISIT
Along with the Pope, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State (Prime Minister), and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States (Foreign Minister), have also departed for Turkey, accompanied by over 70 journalists who will follow this trip.
Before the plane's departure, Pope Leo XIII bid farewell to those waiting to see him off. The special "A320neo" aircraft of ITA Airways, with flight number "AZ 4000," is expected to arrive at Ankara Esenboğa Airport around 12:30 TRT.
HIS FIRST STOP WILL BE ANITKABİR
After arriving in the capital Ankara, Pope Leo XIII's first stop will be Anıtkabir. The Pope will lay a wreath at Atatürk's mausoleum and sign the special guest book at Anıtkabir, then proceed to the Presidential Complex. President Erdoğan will welcome Pope Leo XIII with an official ceremony, after which the two leaders will have a private meeting. The Pope will also meet with official representatives, as well as civil society and diplomatic representatives here.
HE WILL MEET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS
After his meetings at the Complex, Pope Leo XIII will visit the Directorate of Religious Affairs to meet with the President of Religious Affairs, Safi Arpaguş. Following the official meetings in the capital, Pope Leo XIII will travel from Ankara to Istanbul in the evening of the same day.
HE WILL ATTEND A SERVICE IN İZNİK
Tomorrow, the Pope will first meet with bishops, priests, deacons, and spiritual officials at the Saint Esprit Catholic Church (Holy Spirit Cathedral) in Harbiye, Istanbul, and then visit the French Poor House. In the afternoon of the same day, Pope Leo XIII will travel by helicopter to İznik, Bursa, to participate in the ceremony among Christian denominations commemorating the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.
HE WILL ALSO VISIT SULTANAHMET
Pope Leo XIII will visit the Sultan Ahmed Mosque on November 29, and then visit the Mor Efrem Syriac Ancient Orthodox Church to hold a meeting with local church members and leaders of Christian communities.
His next stops will be the Aya Yorgi Church and the Phanar Greek Patriarchate, where he will meet with Patriarch Bartholomeos of the Phanar and then sign a joint statement.
A SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT VOLKSWAGEN ARENA
The program of Vatican President Pope Leo XIII will continue with a service at Volkswagen Arena on Saturday. The Pope will also continue his visits on Sunday, November 30, and in the afternoon, he will travel from Atatürk Airport to Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, for the second leg of his trip.
THE 5TH POPE TO VISIT TURKEY
Pope Leo XIII will be the 5th Pope to visit Turkey with his visit at the end of November. Previously, Pope Francis visited Turkey in 2014, Pope Benedict XVI in 2006, Pope John Paul II in 1979, and Pope Paul VI in 1967.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SAINT NEOPHYTOS BASILICA
Meanwhile, underwater archaeological excavations and research that began in 2015 are ongoing at the Saint Neophytos Basilica, which Pope Leo XIII will visit in İznik. Noting that the church is the largest known church in İznik, Excavation Director Prof. Dr. Mustafa Şahin emphasized that they have gathered and evaluated the data, findings, remains, and cultural assets obtained from the excavations so far, asserting that this is the Church of the Holy Fathers, which has been known for centuries but has never been discovered, and that this hypothesis has been accepted in the Christian world.
"A VERY IMPORTANT DESTINATION IN TERMS OF FAITH TOURISM"
Şahin stated, "By visiting this area, this church can perhaps be turned into a pilgrimage center for Christians. If this church can become an important stop after the Pope's visit, our country will have a very important destination in terms of faith tourism."