Spanish
Vatican City.– Pope Leo XIV has chosen Turkey as the first international destination of his pontificate. The announcement was confirmed by the Holy See Press Office, which detailed that the Supreme Pontiff will travel to the city of Iznik, ancient Nicaea, next Tuesday, May 20, just two days after his enthronement mass in St. Peter's Square.
The trip will commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, held in the year 325 under Emperor Constantine I, a key event that laid the doctrinal foundations of Christianity. The visit has been described as highly symbolic, not only for its historical value, but also for the message of unity it sends to the different Christian denominations.
During his stay in Iznik, Leo XIV will meet with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, in a gesture that reinforces ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. This meeting marks a new chapter in the efforts for reconciliation between both churches, separated since the schism of 1054.
Although the Vatican has not yet published the complete itinerary, sources close to the Pontiff advanced that the visit will include ecumenical prayers, interreligious meetings and a central message oriented towards dialogue, peace and fraternity between peoples and creeds.
The choice of Turkey as the first country visited by Pope Leo XIV has been interpreted as a gesture of continuity with the international agenda of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who also emphasized interreligious ties and openness towards the Orthodox world. However, it also represents a reaffirmation of the new pontiff's commitment to the themes of Christian unity, cultural respect, and shared history.
Leo XIV, who before being elected pope was bishop and prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, has a marked pastoral experience in Latin America, particularly in Peru. His sensitivity towards the peripheries and his vision of a Church on the move have generated high expectations about his leadership style.
