Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Pope Leo Visits Turkey on His First Trip Abroad: What Can We Expect? | DW News

Nov 26, 2025 | Pope Leo XIV is embarking on his first trip abroad, which will take him to Turkey and Lebanon from November 27 to December 2 – where he aims to promote Christian unity and urge peace efforts amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, had planned to visit both countries but was unable to go because of his worsening health. Turkey and Lebanon are majority Muslim countries – and Francis put a strong focus on Muslim-Catholic dialogue during his twelve-year pontificate. But foreign travels are also an opportunity for the Vatican to conduct international diplomacy. So, what can we expect from Leo's visit to Turkey?