This week, Pope Leo XIV launches his first-ever foreign trip as the head of the Catholic Church, which consists of 6 days spent visiting both Turkey and Lebanon. These two nations are not only important areas geopolitically, but they have great significance to Christians and Muslims alike.
As such, this pilgrimage of peace is a prime example of the importance of interfaith dialogue to Pope Leo XIV, as well as his desire to rekindle relationships with the Eastern Orthodox Church and his wish to stand in support of the many persecuted Christian communities throughout the Middle East.
Pope Leo’s Journey to Turkey and Lebanon: Why Now?
From Nov. 27 to Nov. 30, 2019, Pope Leo VI will visit Turkey and then continue to Lebanon from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, 2019. This trip is not only geographically significant but is also symbolic of the Church’s universality, as well as the unfinished business between the Holy See and these two ancient apostolic Churches.
As a primarily Muslim country, Turkey is home to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, where significant ecumenical gatherings take place every four years. The upcoming visit to Constantinople on the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD) marks a huge milestone in Christian history and a benchmark in the formation of Christian beliefs.
In contrast to Turkey, Lebanon has the highest percentage of Christians in the Middle East and remains an area of severe economic hardship, political deadlock, and the aftermath of the Beirut Port explosion (2020). By visiting Lebanon, Pope Leo VI can provide the church with an opportunity to bring messages of hope, peace, and reassurance to a community that often feels unsupported and abandoned.
Key Stops in Turkey: Ecumenism and Interfaith Outreach
Pope Leo’s itinerary is centered on Istanbul and the historic location of Nicaea (Iznik).
Pope Leo’s Schedule Includes:
- An Audience with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at his residence in Istanbul to reaffirm the significance of the Nicaea Anniversary, and to demonstrate the revitalized efforts for Catholic–Orthodox Unity.
- A Prayer and Liturgical Reflection at the Site of the First Council in Iznik, as this gives us a yearly reminder of our Common Christian Heritage and the opportunity to move toward reconciliation after 1,500 years of division.
- A Visit to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, as this marks his First Visit as Pope to a Muslim Place of Worship and aligns with the efforts of his Predecessors in establishing relationships within the Muslim Community; and his continuing message about the respect for Islam and the Interreligious Coexistence.
- A Celebration of the Mass at Istanbul’s Volkswagen Arena, due to the overwhelming number of attendees, Pope Leo is expected to address issues surrounding “Peace”, “Migration”, and the role that small Catholic Communities play in Non-Christian Majority Nations.
Meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as well as Religious Leaders. During these meetings, Pope Leo is expected to be able to speak on Human Rights, Conflict in the Region, and Tension Surrounding sites such as the Hagia Sophia, which was reconverted into a Mosque in 2020.
Lebanon: Consoling a Wounded Country
Pope Leo’s visit to Lebanon (his first since 2012) is not just a papal event but also seen as a way of reaching out with both pastoral care and humanitarian outreach.
The Pope’s schedule will include:
- Meetings with President Joseph Aoun and other political leaders in Baabda. The topics will include governance; the need for reform; and the critical position of Lebanon as a model of Christian-Muslim coexistence despite the tensions that exist.
- A gathering of Christians and Muslims in an interfaith dialogue, appealing to all for de-escalation in the Middle East and for protection of religious pluralism.
- An outdoor Mass on the seashore in Beirut to address human trafficking of young people, the economy, and the effects of corruption in Lebanon.
- Stop and pray at the site of the 2020 Beirut Port explosion and remember those who died in this tragic event as the reminder of failed governmental actions has many Lebanese hoping to receive more attention from the International Community to resume the investigation and assistance to recovery efforts.
- A visit (pilgrimage) to the Tomb of St. Charbel in Kfifane and to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa and to give an opportunity for young people to engage with the Maronite Patriarchate at the Bkerké location, which signifies the Pope’s commitment and support for the religious development and future of Christian communities in Lebanon.
According to Catholic Church Aid, the visit is a symbol showing the Lebanese, both Muslim and Christian, that they are not abandoned at this time, as so many are dealing with poverty and political problems and the enormous prescription to host large numbers of Syrian and Palestinian refugees.
Themes of the Trip: Peace, Unity, and Presence
The Vatican is framing the Papal visit to Lebanon as a vision for the start of the Papacy of Pope Leo.
The Themes of this visit include:
- Peace in the area of Aggression: With currently, the ongoing fighting and bombing from Israel and Hezbollah and other fighting forces, we can expect Leo to call for ceasefires and peaceful negotiations, while promoting the civilian population without direct participation or influence from the current political factions involved.
- Christian Unity: We will see an emphasis on the theme of unity with our Christian brothers and sisters during this time, as the Nicaea councils and meetings between Leo and Eastern Orthodox leaders highlight this, therefore it is a call to heal their divisions with the Eastern church, and will strengthen their witnessing as united Christians in a region full of unrest and turmoil.
- Inter-faith Dialogue: By visiting the Muslim institutions and meetings with their leaders, and by expressing the coexistence of the religions with goodwill, Leo sends a clear message that he will be supporting the establishment of positive relations with the Muslim faith and with Judaism as a vital foundation of his diplomatic policy.
- Support for Minorities and Refugees: The influx of Syrian and Palestinian refugees and the diminishing numbers of Christians in Lebanon create a unique opportunity for the Pope to take the lead in representing these vulnerable populations and calling upon the global community to assist the refugees and Christians not to abandon them.
Risks and Expectations
There are risks associated with travelling. Thanks to the recent attacks in southern Beirut, as well as concerns from regional government officials regarding safety in Lebanon, security concerns have definitely increased. As a result, Leo’s comment, “We’re going,” was taken as an indication of determination to continue with their plans for travel. By avoiding southern Lebanon, he has managed to find a balance between symbolic presence and the limitation that comes from ensuring safety.