The Latest: Pope Leo XIV brings messages of peace and Christian unity on trip to Turkey and Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV arrived on his first foreign trip to Turkey and later Lebanon, a visit that fulfills the late Pope Francis’ plans to mark an important Christian anniversary and bring a message of peace to the region at a crucial time for efforts to end the war in Ukraine and ease Mideast tensions.

In Ankara, Leo will meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and then travel to Istanbul for three days of ecumenical and interfaith meetings that will be followed by the Lebanese leg of his trip until Tuesday.

Leo’s main reason for traveling to Turkey is to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, Christianity’s first ecumenical council. In 325 AD, that council hashed out the first version of the Nicene Creed, a statement of faith that millions of Christians still recite each Sunday.

For the Vatican, Lebanon and its tradition of religious tolerance in the Middle East is a bulwark for Christians in the region, even more so after years of conflict and war that have shrunk Christian communities that date from the time of the Apostles.

Here’s the latest:

People in Ankara say they appreciate the pope’s visit to Ataturk’s mausoleum

Ankara residents on Thursday expressed their appreciation of Pope Leo XIV’s decision to pay his respects at the mausoleum of modern Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Nilgun Altinsoy described it as significant, saying some leaders opposed to Ataturk’s secular reforms — introduced following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire — refrain from paying their respects.

“I congratulate the pope for this reason,” she said.

Bayram Alibastanbel said the pope’s visit resonates with Ataturk’s message of peace, which he said was relevant in the current climate of conflict.

“Ataturk is a world-renowned leader who said ‘Peace at home, peace in the world,’” Alibastanbel said. “We are already going through a difficult time globally, a period with wars. Since this is a time when the world needs peace, I think this is a meaningful visit.”

Leo received a horse-mounted escort to the presidential palace

Leo’s Mercedes limousine received a horse-mounted escort to the presidential palace, where he was greeted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

As is traditional for official guests to the palace, Leo paused in front of a guard of honor and addressed them with the words “Merhaba asker,” or “Greetings soldiers.”

He was then welcomed by officials and senior church members.

Residents of Istanbul have mixed feelings about the pope’s visit

Shopkeeper Ekim Erdogan, 47, said Leo’s visit will have practical benefits for ordinary people, especially businesses like his. “There will be some employment; everyone will earn something for themselves. So yes, the pope’s visit is good, of course, whoever contributes to this country, whoever it may be, it’s good for shopkeepers.”

Fatma Cicek Geyik, a 57-year-old artist, said the visit should not be exaggerated. She said Turkey is a land with a powerful history and she didn’t see the need to “elevate” others’ presence.

“He’s welcome, his visit will bring joy. But I don’t see it as something to exaggerate too much,” she said. “They will leave just as they came.”

Leo is scheduled to leave for Istanbul later on Thursday following his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the capital, Ankara.

Pope visits mausoleum of modern Turkey’s founder

Pope Leo XIV has arrived at the mausoleum of modern Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Leo strolled along a path lined with statues of lions — the Lion Path — behind a military detachment carrying a red-and-while floral tribute bearing his papal title.

He later laid the floral arrangement bearing the colors of the Turkish flag in front of the marble grave with the help of two honor guards and observed a minute a silence.

Pope welcomed upon landing in Ankara by a military honor guard

Pope Leo XIV was welcomed on the tarmac of Ankara’s Esenboga Airport by a military guard of honor.

Strolling along a turquoise carpet, he shook hands with Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, other officials and senior church figures from Turkey. He was later scheduled to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and address members of the diplomatic corps in Ankara.

Pope got his Wordle done before the trip to Turkey and Lebanon

Despite an early wakeup, Pope Leo XIV said he had already done his Wordle online game before embarking on his first foreign trip.

Leo said he got Thursday’s word in three tries.

Leo revealed last week that he opts for the challenging strategy in the popular New York Times puzzle of changing his start word each day.

Leo revealed his Thursday score when he came to the back of the papal plane to greet journalists. Soon after he was elected in May, the pope’s brother John Prevost revealed that the brothers play Wordle each day and compare scores, as many friends and family do.

Pope acknowledges the historic importance of his trip

Pope Leo XIV has acknowledged the historic nature of his first foreign trip and said he has been looking forward to it because of what it means for Christians and for peace in the world.

Leo spoke to reporters Thursday as he traveled to Turkey on the first leg of a six-day trip that will also bring him to Lebanon.

Leo said he knows the visit to commemorate a key ecumenical anniversary was important for Christians. But he said he hoped his broader message of peace would resonate worldwide.

“We hope to also announce, transmit and proclaim how important peace is throughout the world. And to invite all people to come together to search for greater unity, greater harmony, and to look for the ways that all men and women can truly be brothers and sisters inspite of differences, inspite of different religions, inspite of different beliefs.”

Pope presented with a religious icon by the press aboard the plane

The doyenne of the Vatican press corps, Mexican correspondent Valentina Alazraki, welcomed Leo aboard the ITA charter and presented him with a religious icon.

She reminded Leo that when Pope Francis first encountered reporters on his maiden voyage, in 2013 to Rio de Janeiro, she assured him that he needn’t be afraid of reporters. It was a reference to Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s well-known reluctance to engage with the Argentine media while he was archbishop of Buenos Aires.

Francis went on to enjoy a lively relationship with the press during his 12-year papacy, especially during his foreign trips, something Alazraki said the Vatican press corps hoped for with Leo.

Leo has engaged now on a weekly basis with a gaggle of press who gather each Tuesday evening outside the papal vacation retreat in Castel Gandolfo, where he goes on his days off.

“At Castel Gandolfo, you have already broken the ice,” Alazraki said, assuring Leo that the media can be useful to him and the Vatican to relay news of the papacy to the world.

Pope Leo XIV wishes Americans a ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ as he traveled to Turkey

Leo offered a word of thanks at the start of the flight when he came to the back of the papal plane to greet the estimated 80 journalists who are travelling with the Vatican delegation.

“To the Americans here, Happy Thanksgiving!” he said. “It’s a wonderful day to celebrate.”

History’s first American pope thanked the journalists for their work, saying it was important today to transmit information “that really reveals the truth and the harmony that the world needs.”

At least two journalists presented Leo with pumpkin pies. He was also gifted a baseball bat once owned by legendary White Sox player Nellie Fox, and a pair of White Sox-branded slippers and socks.

The latter gift was a reference to Leo’s quip last week that he only wears white socks, a play on words about his beloved Chicago baseball team.

Pope arrives in Ankara

Pope Leo XIV has landed in Ankara to kick off a trip to Turkey and Lebanon until Tuesday.

Leo boards flight to Turkey

Pope Leo XIV has boarded the ITA charter flight that is taking him on his first trip as pope.

The Airbus A320 neo is heading first to Ankara, Turkey, where Leo will meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and deliver his first speech. The papal delegation, with some 80 international journalists in tow, then flies onto Istanbul for three days of ecumenical and interfaith activities.

The American pope heads to Lebanon on Sunday for the second and final leg of the trip.

Thursday is Thanksgiving in the United States and at least two journalists have brought pumpkin pies on board the flight to Ankara hoping to share them with the pope.