ANKARA, Turkey — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Turkey on Thursday to begin his first international journey as pontiff, marking a historic moment as the first American-born pope travels abroad to promote Christian unity and urge peace in the war-torn Middle East.

The six-day pilgrimage to Turkey and Lebanon centers on commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the landmark 325 AD gathering that produced the Nicene Creed — a foundational statement of Christian belief still recited by millions worldwide each Sunday. The trip represents a critical diplomatic test for Leo, who was elected in May 2025 and whose measured approach contrasts sharply with his predecessor's more spontaneous style.

Religious Diplomacy Takes Center Stage

Leo's choice to make Turkey his inaugural foreign destination underscores the Vatican's commitment to interfaith dialogue and Christian unity at a time of global religious and political fracture. The pope arrived in Ankara where he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before addressing Turkish authorities and the diplomatic corps.

The predominantly Muslim nation of 86 million people hosts fewer than 370,000 Christians, yet it remains home to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians. The patriarch's headquarters in Istanbul make Turkey a crucial meeting point for discussions aimed at healing the nearly thousand-year-old rift between Eastern and Western Christianity.

On Friday, Leo and Bartholomew will travel together to Iznik — ancient Nicaea — where they will pray at the site where bishops from across the Christian world first assembled to define core doctrinal beliefs. The two leaders plan to sign a joint declaration affirming their commitment to Christian unity, a symbolic gesture carrying profound ecumenical significance.

"We all understand that 1,000 years of division has inflicted a deep wound that cannot be healed easily," Bartholomew recently told Greek media. "We have an obligation, however, to strive to heal that wound, mend the injuries, bridge the distances and restore unity."

Nicaea's Enduring Legacy

The Council of Nicaea convened in 325 AD at Emperor Constantine's request to address theological controversies threatening to divide the early church. The gathering of approximately 300 bishops established the Nicene Creed, which affirmed Christ's divinity in response to Arianism, a heresy denying Jesus was fully God.

The creed declares Jesus as "true God from true God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father" — words that remain central to Catholic, Orthodox and many Protestant worship services. The council also established a unified method for calculating Easter's date, attempting to create liturgical harmony across Christian communities.

Ahead of his trip, Leo published an apostolic letter titled "In Unitate Fidei" ("In the Unity of Faith"), calling on Christians to move beyond theological controversies that have lost relevance. The document emphasizes the Nicene Creed as an indispensable bond among all Christian confessions and promotes reconciliation through dialogue.

Interfaith Outreach in Turkey

Beyond ecumenical meetings, Leo's Turkish itinerary includes significant interfaith engagement. On Saturday, he will visit Istanbul's Sultan Ahmed Mosque — known as the Blue Mosque — in a gesture of respect toward Islam and Turkey's Muslim majority.

Asgın Tunca, a Blue Mosque imam preparing to receive the pontiff, said the visit will help advance Christian-Muslim relations and counter popular misconceptions. "We want to reflect that image by showing the beauty of our religion through our hospitality — that is God's command," Tunca stated.

Leo will also celebrate Mass at Istanbul's Volkswagen Arena with an estimated 4,000 attendees and meet with Turkey's Chief Rabbi in a late addition to his schedule. These encounters reflect the Vatican's broader commitment to religious pluralism and peaceful coexistence.

Middle East Peace Mission

The trip's second leg brings Leo to Lebanon, where he arrives Sunday amid continuing tensions from last year's conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel launched an airstrike on Beirut just days before Leo's arrival, underscoring the volatile security environment.

Lebanon's small but historically significant Christian population has faced decades of political instability, economic collapse and recent warfare. Christians constitute roughly 12 distinct communities in Lebanon's diverse religious landscape, making the country a living example of the pluralism the Vatican champions.

On his final day, Leo will spend time in silent prayer at the site of the devastating August 2020 Beirut port explosion that killed at least 218 people and caused billions in damage. The blast, sparked by negligently stored ammonium nitrate, became a symbol of government corruption and failure that continues to fuel Lebanese anger.

Vatican officials emphasized that no special security measures beyond standard protocols were implemented for the trip, though they declined to comment on vehicle armor specifications. Lebanese organizers assured that the pope's itinerary avoids conflict zones in southern Lebanon, though he may encounter Israeli surveillance drones over Beirut.

Historic Significance and Media Attention

The unprecedented attention surrounding America's first pope traveling abroad has drawn all major U.S. television networks — ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN and BBC — into Leo's press pool. Approximately 80 journalists are covering the journey, with many more on waiting lists due to limited space aboard the papal aircraft.

"Anytime the pope travels, it's a big deal," said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, associate professor of theology at Fordham University. "But an American pope on his first foreign trip is an even bigger deal," especially given Leo's emergence as a counterpoint to Trump administration immigration policies.

Aboard the papal flight, Leo addressed journalists in English and wished Americans a happy Thanksgiving. "It's so important today that the message be transmitted in a way that really reveals the truth and the harmony that the world needs," he told reporters.

Significantly, Leo will deliver all his remarks in Turkey in English rather than Italian, the Vatican's traditional diplomatic language. In Lebanon, he will speak English and French, casting aside convention in favor of languages more widely understood by his audiences.

Navigating Diplomatic Complexities

Leo faces delicate diplomatic terrain throughout the visit. His predecessor Pope Francis angered Turkey in 2015 by declaring the Ottoman-era slaughter of Armenians "the first genocide of the 20th century," prompting Turkey to recall its ambassador. Turkey continues denying genocide occurred, making the issue politically sensitive.

The Vatican must also navigate complicated relationships with Armenia, after interfaith outreach to Azerbaijan drew criticism. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni emphasized that Leo has "tended to be far more prudent than Francis in his public comments," suggesting the American pontiff will avoid inflammatory language.

Some Turkish citizens expressed skepticism about the visit's significance. "If the pope is visiting, that means America wants something from Turkey," said Metin Erdem, an Istanbul shop owner, suggesting conspiracy theories about U.S. interests overshadow religious diplomacy for some locals.

Unity Amid Division

Leo's emphasis on unity has defined his first six months as pope, from his election motto "In Illo uno unum" ("In the One — that is Christ — we are one") to his consistent calls for dialogue over confrontation. The Turkey-Lebanon trip allows him to demonstrate whether these themes translate into concrete diplomatic and ecumenical progress.

The visit fulfills plans originally developed under Francis, who hoped to celebrate the Nicaea anniversary but postponed for health reasons. Leo inherited not only the itinerary but also the challenge of addressing Orthodox concerns about Catholic-Orthodox relations amid the broader Christian community's ongoing divisions.

Orthodox scholar Paul Gavrilyuk noted that many Orthodox churches, especially those within Russia's sphere of influence, pay less attention to ecumenical developments. "We are simply on very different ecumenical clocks," he observed. Yet symbolic gestures like praying together at ancient Nicaea carry weight throughout Orthodox Christianity.

Lebanon as Model and Mission

The Vatican has long held special interest in Lebanon, which Francis praised as a model of pluralistic coexistence despite its struggles. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun formally invited Leo to visit in June 2025, emphasizing the symbolic importance of papal support.

"Many families feel that they are surviving day by day with really very little visibility on the future," said Marielle Boutros, project coordinator for Aid to the Church in Need. "So this visit of His Holiness, it's not simply symbolic. It is a really concrete sign that Lebanon is not forgotten."

Leo will meet separately with Lebanon's president, prime minister and National Assembly president, underscoring the Vatican's engagement with the country's complex political structure. He will also hold an ecumenical and interreligious meeting in Beirut's Martyrs' Square, bringing together representatives from Lebanon's diverse faith communities.

A meeting with young Lebanese offers Leo opportunity to address the massive emigration of educated youth seeking opportunities abroad. His words of encouragement aim to counter widespread disillusionment about Lebanon's future while acknowledging the failures that have driven so many to leave.

Broader Geopolitical Context

The trip occurs as the Vatican attempts to shape outcomes in multiple global conflicts, from Ukraine to Gaza. Leo's appeals for peace carry added weight when delivered from conflict zones, echoing Francis's strategy of using papal visits to spotlight humanitarian crises.

Kim Daniels, director of Georgetown University's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, noted that Leo's engagement with immigration issues has made him a significant voice in American discourse. "I think this trip will drive attention again to the peripheries and to the vulnerable," she said.

The timing also reflects broader strategic considerations. Russia's war in Ukraine and Israeli-Palestinian tensions create urgent needs for religious leaders who can appeal to universal humanitarian principles transcending national interests.