Pope Leo XIV's First Overseas Trip: "T?rkiye and Lebanon"

Late November to Early December
Commemorating the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea

Pope Leo XIV will make his first overseas trip since ascending to the papacy, visiting T?rkiye and Lebanon from late November to early December 2025.

The Vatican announced on October 7 (local time) that Pope Leo XIV plans to visit T?rkiye from November 27 to 30, followed by a visit to Lebanon from November 30 to December 2. The Vatican added that detailed schedules for the trip "will be announced at a later date."

Bishop Lee Yonghoon is presiding over the Thanksgiving Mass for the election of Pope Leo XIV held last June at Myeongdong Cathedral in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, in July, Pope Leo XIV met with Emine Erdogan, wife of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during her visit to the Vatican. At that time, he expressed his wish to make T?rkiye, a country where 99% of the population is Muslim, his first overseas destination.

Pope Leo XIV reportedly emphasized the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, stating, "T?rkiye is an important country for Christians and also serves as a crucial bridge in building peace."

The Council of Nicaea (present-day Iznik, T?rkiye) was the first ecumenical council convened by Roman Emperor Constantine I in 325. It holds significant historical meaning, as it established the date of Easter and the doctrine of the Trinity, and condemned the Arian movement-which denied the divinity of Christ-as heresy, leading to their excommunication.

If Pope Leo XIV visits Lebanon as planned, it will mark the first papal visit to the country in 13 years since Pope Benedict XVI in September 2012. Although Pope Francis had also hoped to visit Lebanon, his plans did not materialize due to political and economic instability in the country.

Major international media outlets have analyzed Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming trip as a move carrying symbolic significance for both Christians and Muslims.