His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I sign a Joint Declaration in Istanbul reaffirming their commitment to the path toward full communion and forcefully rejecting any use of religion to justify violence.

On the third day of his Apostolic Visit to Türkiye, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV travelled to the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul, where he joined Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I for the solemn recitation of the Doxology and the signing of a Joint Declaration that reaffirms their shared commitment to the path toward restored full communion and their united rejection of any appeal to religion to legitimize violence.

During his Apostolic Journey to Türkiye, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV joins the Ecumenical Patriarch for a Prayer Service at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George in Istanbul.

On Saturday, his third day in Türkiye, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV addressed the faithful at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George in a Prayer Service and Doxology.

In his greeting to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, the Pope expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the warm reception, highlighting the continuity of fraternal bonds with his predecessors.

On the morning of the third day of his Apostolic Journey to Türkiye, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV visits the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the “Blue Mosque.”

Starting off his third day in Türkiye on his first Apostolic Journey abroad, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV visited the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the “Blue Mosque.”

"The Pope experienced the visit to the Mosque in silence, in a spirit of recollection and attentive listening, with deep respect for the place and for the faith of those who gather there in prayer," according to the Holy See Press Office.

The more than 21,000 ceramic tiles from Iznik that line the walls of the building, predominantly blue and turquoise, gave rise to mosque's nickname. 

At the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV greets the community of Catholic faithful and blesses the first stone for a Catholic parish in the US city of Dallas, Texas, brought by the pastor on a pilgrimage to Türkiye.

“Pope Leo”, “Long live the Pope!” The small crowd gathered in the courtyard of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul cheered as they waited for Pope Leo XIV's arrival on Friday morning.

The Prayer encounter with the bishops, deacons, consecrated people and the rest of the Turkish Catholic community was his first appointment on the second day of his Apostolic Visit to Türkiye and Lebanon from November 27 to December 2.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV prays with leaders of various Christian Churches in Nicaea, modern-day Iznik, Türkiye, and invites all Christians to follow the paths of fraternal encounter, dialogue, and cooperation.

At the site of ancient Nicaea, Pope Leo XIV joined around 27 other leaders of Christian Churches to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in the Church’s history.

The Ecumenical Prayer Service took place on the second day of the Pope’s Apostolic Journey to Türkiye.

In his address, the Pope thanked Patriarch Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, for his “great wisdom and foresight” in calling for Church leaders to celebrate this important anniversary together.

On his second day in Türkiye, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV visits a care home for the elderly run by the Little Sisters of the Poor just outside central Istanbul.

The care home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor just outside central Istanbul is a home for the city’s elderly of every background: Turks, Armenians, refugees from a number of countries in Africa, and even a member of Istanbul’s historic Jewish population.

“The Other is Christ,” reads a phrase on the corridor wall, beside a board displaying each resident’s name card.

The Pope’s first stop in the house was the chapel, which had been adorned for the occasion with flags and flowers. Around 200 people were waiting for him there, both the residents themselves, seated in the front, and the staff who keep the house running every day.

During a meeting with Bishops, Clergy, Religious, and Pastoral Workers in Istanbul, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV highlights Türkiye's profound Christian roots and encourages the small Catholic community to look to the future with confidence, service, and renewed mission.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV kicked off the second day of his Apostolic Journey to Türkiye with a meeting with Bishops, Clergy, Consecrated Persons, and Pastoral Workers in Istanbul. 

Gathered in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, the Pope began by acknowledging the depth of Christian history in this land.

As His Holiness Pope Leo XIV visits the site of the Council of Nicaea, held in 325, we recall the importance of the first Ecumenical Council's proclamation of the Church’s faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ, which also established the date for Easter for all Christians.

The first Ecumenical Council in the history of the Church took place in 325, in an era of epochal change. After some two hundred fifty years of persecution, the decision of the Emperor Constantine to legalize Christianity allowed Christians to worship in freedom throughout the Roman Empire. 

On November 27, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), participated in the concluding session of the conference “Light for Syria”, at Dar Sharqi Guesthouse.

His Excellency Cardinal Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio in Damascus, and their Excellencies the Bishops of the different churches in Syria, were also present.

His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, and Mor Andrawos Bahhi, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV concludes the first day of his Apostolic Journey to Türkiye after meeting with the country's civil authorities and calling for the Church and Turkish citizens to build a culture of encounter and dialogue.

By Christopher Wells

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV landed on Thursday in the Turkish capital of Ankara, the first stop on a six-day visit to Türkiye and Lebanon—the first Apostolic Journey of his Pontificate.

On his first Apostolic Journey abroad, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV addresses authorities in Ankara, urging Türkiye to embrace its vocation as a bridge between cultures, faiths, and continents, and calling the world to reject division and pursue dialogue.

By Francesca Merlo

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV landed in Ankara only a few hours ago, stepping onto Turkish soil and kicking off the first leg of his first Apostolic Journey abroad, taking place from November 27 to December 3.

The journey will take him from Istanbul to Iznik, where the Church marks the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, and then, on Sunday, November 30, the Holy Father will travel to Lebanon.

Aboard the papal plane to Ankara, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV greets over 80 journalists, who present him with several gifts, such as a baseball bat, pictures of his time as a missionary, and a pumpkin pie, and he describes his Apostolic Journey to Türkiye and Lebanon as seeking to promote peace and unity.

By Isabella H. de Carvalho—aboard the papal plane

“To the Americans here: Happy Thanksgiving!” said His Holiness Pope Leo XIV as he appeared, smiling and waving, from behind the curtains that divide the different sections of the papal plane, around 20 minutes after takeoff from Rome's Fiumicino Airport.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV releases his Prayer intention for the month of December, and invites the faithful to pray that Christians living in the midst of war may be seeds of peace.

By Devin Watkins

As he prepares to depart on his Apostolic Journey to Türkiye and Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV released The Pope Video on Wednesday to accompany his Prayer intention for December, which is for “Christians living in areas of conflict.”

“Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation, and hope,” he said in the video.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s first engagement upon his arrival in Türkiye on Thursday morning is a visit to the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, where he signs the Book of Honour.

Vatican News

Straight after the official welcome ceremony at Ankara’s International Airport on Thursday morning, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV visited the city’s Mausoleum of Atatürk—or Anıtkabir (literally, "memorial tomb")—accompanied by an official delegation including the Minister, the Vice-Governor, and the Commander of the Mausoleum.

The Pope signed the Mausoleum's Book of Honour and wrote, "I give thanks to God for being able to visit Türkiye, and I invoke upon this country and its people an abundance of peace and prosperity.”

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV departs from Rome’s Fiumicino Airport as he begins his first Apostolic Journey, which takes him to Türkiye and Lebanon to offer a sign of unity and peace.

By Devin Watkins

The papal plane took off from Rome’s Fiumicino Airport at 7:58 AM on Thursday, bound for Ankara, Türkiye.

The partitions of the ITA Airways Airbus A320neo bore the image of Our Mother of Good Counsel, a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary held dear by the Augustinians.

Devotion to Our Lady under the title is tied to the hill-town church of Genazzano, Italy, where the Augustinians have served since the 13th century.

By Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader, Head of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media, Publisher of Abouna Website, and Media Consultant on behalf of the MECC Executive Committee

On his first visit outside Italy, Pope Leo XIV's plane lands today, Thursday, at Ankara Airport so that Turkey would be the first leg on his apostolic tour, to be followed by a second leg to fraternal Lebanon. Through this visit, the Pope seeks to fulfill a "double dream" that his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, was unable to realize due to his passing away.

Today, we address the first stop, namely Turkey which by virtue of its location is a crossroads of civilizations and cultures. It is also a holy land, rich in historical sites sanctified by the apostles where Christianity took root after the ascension of Lord Jesus Christ. Among the most important of these apostles is Paul the Apostle, who founded several churches there and wrote letters that are considered an integral part of the Holy Bible.

At the General Audience, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV reflects on his upcoming Apostolic Visit to Türkiye and Lebanon, two countries “rich in history and spirituality”.

By Joseph Tulloch

Wednesday’s General Audience was one of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s last official appointments in Rome before his Apostolic Journey to Türkiye and Lebanon, which begins on Thursday.

The Pope spoke of the visit, which will be his first foreign journey, at the end of the audience,  describing the countries he would be travelling to as “rich in history and spirituality”.

At the Wednesday General Audience, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV reflects on the mystery of life, and recalls that God’s love gives our lives meaning as we participate in giving life to others.

By Devin Watkins

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV continued his catechesis on the theme of hope at the Wednesday General Audience.

He focused on the mystery of human life and the contradictions and promise wrapped up in our existence.

Life, he said, is given to us as a gift which we did not ask for, and every person faces difficulties and obstacles, some to an even greater extent.

As the Christian community in Türkiye awaits His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to commemorate the Council of Nicaea with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Christian Unity, says he hopes that this joint commemoration will bear witness to Christian unity.

By Christine Seuss

Q: The First Council of Nicaea took place 1,700 years ago. Why is it still relevant today?

Cardinal Koch: I believe there are two reasons for this. Firstly, the Council took place in 325, at a time when Christianity had not yet been wounded by so many divisions and separations.

That is why the Council concerns all Christians and can be celebrated in Ecumenical fellowship. And second, the Council defined and established the Christian faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, which is held by all Christians.

Reminding ourselves of this anew and deepening our faith together in ecumenical friendship is the great advantage of this event…