Pope Leo's Symbolic Visit to Turkey

Pope Leo embarked on his first overseas journey as pontiff from November 27 to November 30, 2025, in Turkey, before continuing to Lebanon. 

His arrival was in the Turkish capital, Ankara, where he was received with a military honour guard at Esenboğa Airport.

Early on the first day, he visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, laid a wreath and signed the Book of Honour.

According to Vatican News, the Pope signed the Mausoleum's Book of Honour and wrote, "I give thanks to God for being able to visit Türkiye, and I invoke upon this country and its people an abundance of peace and prosperity.” 

He then met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, at the Presidential Palace and addressed civil society, diplomats and authorities.

The trip’s agenda also includes Istanbul, Iznik (ancient Nicaea), meetings with religious leaders, and ecumenical and interfaith events — before heading on to Lebanon.

The trip is designed to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, convened in A.D. 325, a pivotal event in the history of Christianity. Pope Leo wants to honour that legacy and promote Christian-Orthodox unity.

Purpose & Symbolism of the Trip

Firstly, it is a mission of peace, dialogue, and interfaith bridge-building. The Pope aims to emphasise Turkey’s role as a “bridge between East and West,” and between different religions and cultures — especially Christian-Muslim understanding.

Turkey has historically sat at the crossroads of civilisations — from the Byzantine Empire, the heart of Eastern Christianity and the site of early Church councils, to the Ottoman Empire, which became one of the most influential Islamic powers in history. 

Cities like Constantinople (now Istanbul) symbolised centuries of coexistence, conflict, and cultural exchange between Christianity and Islam. 

In the 20th century, modern Turkey evolved into a secular state under Atatürk, positioning itself as a mediator between Europe and the Middle East. Past Popes — including John Paul II in 1979, Benedict XVI in 2006, and Francis in 2014 — also visited Turkey seeking interfaith dialogue and religious coexistence. 

By returning to this historically layered territory, Pope Leo is not just engaging with a modern political actor but tapping into a deeper legacy: Turkey as a symbolic meeting place where faiths, cultures, and geopolitical worlds have collided and mingled for centuries.

Secondly, by visiting secular sites, such as Atatürk’s mausoleum, and engaging with the Turkish state and religious authorities, the Pope’s journey underscores the Vatican’s interest in diplomacy, religious coexistence, and support for Turkey’s cultural and religious diversity.

This gesture carries significant historical symbolism. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the modern Turkish Republic in 1923, abolished the Ottoman caliphate and established a secular constitution, transforming Turkey from the seat of Islamic authority into a nation that separated religion from politics. 

For decades, the Vatican has observed this tension between Turkey's secular identity and its deep Islamic heritage. Previous papal visits — John Paul II in 1979, Benedict XVI in 2006, and Francis in 2014 — also included symbolic moments acknowledging both Turkey’s secular institutions and its religious communities. 

By laying a wreath at Atatürk’s mausoleum, Pope Leo signals respect for Turkey’s secular foundations while still advocating interfaith dialogue. 

It reflects the Vatican’s strategic diplomatic approach: recognising Turkey not only as a predominantly Muslim nation, but as a country where secular governance, religious identity, and cultural heritage coexist in a finely balanced relationship.

Reactions, Significance, and Complications

The visit has been broadly welcomed as a powerful symbolic act — a show of the Vatican’s commitment to faith unity and interreligious peace in a volatile region. Media and religious commentators have noted the Pope’s call for Turkey to serve as a mediator in global conflicts.

The symbolism transpires in “the symbolical presence of two global spiritual leaders renders the witness of Christianity more credible and impactful,” the Rev. John Chryssavgis, a theologian and adviser to Bartholomew, told CNN. He added that Leo’s visit underlines the “close connections and search for unity between Rome and Constantinople.”

Moreover, according to CNN, “overseas trips are an important part of the papacy’s 'soft power,' offering the pope an opportunity to meet with political leaders of his host country, address the local Catholic community, and focus international media attention on regional issues”.

The presence of the Pope in Turkey — a predominantly Muslim, secular republic — and his public homage at Atatürk’s mausoleum were seen as gestures of respect and a bid to strengthen church-state and interfaith relationships.

The trip underscores the Vatican’s aim to reach out beyond traditional Catholic spheres, incorporate Orthodox Christian heritage (via Nicaea commemoration), and engage broader Christian-Muslim-state communities.

Given the complex geopolitical environment (Middle East tensions, Christian-Muslim relations, refugee issues), the symbolic nature of the visit may be tested by real-world divisions. 

“This is a trip where Leo will get to promote one of the central themes of his papacy, peace – and he’ll have two different audiences in mind,” said Christopher White, a Vatican expert and author of 'Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy'.

Hence, in relation to real-world divisions, the visit addresses this somewhat as “Turkey and Lebanon are strategic locations for him to double down on his efforts for peace in Ukraine and in the Middle East and with this being his first foreign outing, he’ll have the attention of world leaders closely following the trip.”

In addition, White said that “Leo attempts to unite the region’s long-divided churches. He would especially use the anniversary celebrations in Turkey “to remind believers what they share in common is far greater than their divisions.” 

Pope Leo’s visit is more than a ceremonial gesture — it reflects a broader Vatican strategy to engage with a world where religion, politics, and identity increasingly collide. 

By choosing Turkey and Lebanon as his first destinations, Leo signals that dialogue, faith diplomacy, and historical memory will shape the direction of his papacy. Whether these symbolic gestures lead to real reconciliation amid today’s deep divisions remains a central question.