Pope Leo XIV embarked on his first Apostolic Journey, traveling to Türkiye and Lebanon. The papal plane departed from Rome's Fiumicino Airport, with the image of Our Mother of Good Counsel on the partitions. In Ankara, the Pope will visit the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Pope Leo XIV will reside at the Apostolic Nunciature in Istanbul during his visit to Türkiye.
15 days ago
Pope Leo XIV embarked on his first apostolic journey outside Italy, a six-day visit to Türkiye and Lebanon beginning on November 27, 2025. The trip emphasizes peace, ecumenism, and interfaith dialogue, commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.1 2 It builds on predecessors' visits, highlighting Türkiye's role as a bridge between cultures and religions.4
The papal plane departed Rome's Fiumicino Airport at 7:58 AM, featuring imagery of Our Mother of Good Counsel, tied to Pope Leo's Augustinian roots.2 Aboard were 82 journalists from 15 countries, with whom the Pope shared thoughts on peace and harmony during an impromptu press interaction.4
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Ankara on November 27, greeted by Türkiye's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.1 The reception was formal but restrained, contrasting the warmth on the flight.4
His first engagement was at the Anıtkabir Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern secular Türkiye.3 The Pope laid a wreath, signed the Golden Book with a message invoking peace and prosperity, and honored Atatürk's legacy amid the site's symbolic elements like the Road of Lions and Peace Park.1 3
Escorted by horse guards, Pope Leo met President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential Palace.1 In a private encounter followed by a public address at the Nation’s Library, he stressed Türkiye's bridging role, family importance, and rejecting indifference for a culture of encounter.1 4
The Pope urged geopolitical stability and peace efforts in conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza.4 He affirmed Christians' contributions to Turkish identity, recalling Saint John XXIII as the "Turkish Pope."4 Later, he met Safi Arpaguş, President of the Diyanet, Türkiye's Sunni Islam authority, in a nod to the secular state's Muslim majority.1
The day ended with a brief stop at the Apostolic Nunciature before flying to Istanbul.1
On November 28, Pope Leo met bishops, clergy, religious, and pastoral workers at Istanbul's Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.5 He reflected on the region's Christian history, from Abraham's obedience to early Church foundations.5
He visited an elderly care facility run by the Little Sisters of the Poor, emphasizing solidarity.5 These acts underscored the Church's pastoral presence in a minority context.5
A highlight was the ecumenical prayer in Iznik (ancient Nicaea) on November 28, marking the 1,700th anniversary of the first ecumenical council.1 5 Pope Leo joined Christian leaders to recite the Creed amid basilica ruins, invoking Jesus' prayer for unity (Jn 17:21).6
This event symbolized renewed commitment to Christian communion, fulfilling promises from Pope Francis.4
On November 29, Pope Leo visited the Patriarchal Church of Saint George in Istanbul for a prayer service and Doxology with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.6 He expressed emotion following predecessors like Paul VI and Francis, noting their shared friendships.6
The Pope highlighted the Nicaea commemoration's grace and honored Apostle Andrew, the Patriarchate's patron.6 They signed a Joint Declaration on unity and peace before a private meeting.6 This reinforced fraternal bonds and ecumenical progress.6
Assess Catholic diplomacy’s role in fostering ecumenical peace
Catholic diplomacy, as exercised by the Holy See, plays a pivotal role in fostering ecumenical peace by leveraging moral authority, institutional structures, and concrete initiatives to bridge divisions among Christian communities. Rooted in the Church's mission to promote unity as a witness to the Gospel, this diplomacy emphasizes theological dialogue, shared witness, and reconciliation, contributing to a broader vision of peace that extends from intra-Christian harmony to global stability. Drawing on papal teachings and curial frameworks, it addresses the scandal of Christian disunity while advancing practical cooperation in a fractured world.
The modern trajectory of Catholic diplomacy in ecumenical peace traces back to the Second Vatican Council, which marked a turning point in the Church's approach to unity among Christians. The Council's Decree Unitatis Redintegratio (1964) underscored that divisions among Christians "scandalize the world and damage that most holy cause, the preaching of the Gospel," linking ecumenism directly to the Church's evangelizing mission and its role as a "sign and instrument of unity and reconciliation." This document called for dialogue in "humble and loving fraternity," grounded in common baptism and shared mission, setting the stage for diplomatic engagement that prioritizes visible unity as essential for peace.
Popes in the post-conciliar era have consistently framed Holy See diplomacy as an instrument for this unity. Pope Paul VI, in addresses to the diplomatic corps, portrayed the Holy See's efforts as complementary to state diplomacy, focused on containing tensions and restoring dialogue amid global conflicts. In 1970, he highlighted how papal representatives assist local churches in promoting peace within nations by overcoming "egoism, pride and rivalries," while extending this to international peace through concrete interventions, as exemplified by Pius XII's actions during World War II. By 1974, Paul VI described the Holy See as a "staunch ally" in safeguarding "just and substantial peace," uniting its moral-spiritual mission with states' actions to foster relations based on principles of justice and the common good. This approach avoids political solutions but infuses discussions with Christian teachings on the "unity of the human family," urging governments to eliminate inherited injustices.
Pope John Paul II built on this foundation, emphasizing ecumenism's necessity in a unifying yet conflict-ridden world. In 1980, he noted how papal visits, such as to Turkey, serve peace by promoting ecumenical encounters and rapprochement across diverse societies, overcoming what separates peoples. His 2004 reflection on Unitatis Redintegratio's anniversary reiterated that ecumenical progress counters "erroneous, Godless humanism" and bloody conflicts, calling Christians to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph 4:1-3). These historical efforts demonstrate Catholic diplomacy's evolution from reactive peacemaking to proactive ecumenical bridge-building.
The Holy See's institutional apparatus underpins its diplomatic role in ecumenism. The Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, established post-Vatican II and restructured in Praedicate Evangelium (2022), is central to this mission. It manages relations with other Churches and ecclesial communities, promoting theological dialogues and meetings to foster unity, often with expert cooperation. The dicastery appoints Catholic participants in dialogues, invites observers to Catholic events, and advances ecumenical initiatives on spiritual, pastoral, and cultural levels, always submitting key matters to the Roman Pontiff. This structure ensures coordinated, authoritative engagement, transforming abstract unity into tangible diplomatic actions.
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (now integrated into the dicastery) has been instrumental since its creation in 1960 by Pope John XXIII, serving as Vatican II's preparatory organ and endorsing key documents like Unitatis Redintegratio, Nostra Aetate, and Gaudium et Spes. It facilitates ecumenism with Eastern and Western churches, distinguishing "Sister Churches" from Reformation-originated communities, and promotes renewal through dialogue. These bodies enable the Holy See to act as a neutral moral arbiter, distinct from state diplomacy yet collaborative in pursuing peace.
Catholic diplomacy manifests in specific ecumenical initiatives that directly advance peace. Recent papal actions under Pope Leo XIV highlight this continuity. In 2025, his apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon celebrated the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, emphasizing unity as a "message of harmony" amid global needs. Addressing an Orthodox-Catholic pilgrimage from the United States, Leo XIV invoked shared creedal patrimony and the Jubilee theme "Peregrinantes in Spes" (Pilgrims in Hope), urging witnesses of hope against violence and calling for ecumenical commemoration of Nicaea.
Theological dialogues exemplify diplomatic precision. In his 2025 address to Mar Awa III of the Assyrian Church of the East, Leo XIV praised progress since the 1994 Joint Declaration, resolving Christological disputes and advancing sacramental recognition, now focusing on ecclesial constitution through a first-millennium-inspired model of communion without absorption. He linked this to synodality as an "ecumenical" path, echoing Vatican II's call for "forms of synodality among Christians." Similarly, his message to the 2025 Ecumenical Week in Stockholm commemorated the 1925 Life and Work Conference and Nicaea, affirming Catholic commitment to "practical Christianity" for peace, justice, and dignity. Citing milestones like John Paul II's 1989 Sweden visit and the 2016 Lund commemoration, Leo XIV stressed shared witness under the theme "Time for God’s Peace," positioning ecumenism as reconciliation amid conflict and disconnection.
Broader regional diplomacy supports ecumenism by stabilizing contexts where Christian unity is tested. In the Middle East, papal interventions in Lebanon—described as a "message of freedom and pluralism" through Christian-Muslim coexistence—have sought dialogue for security and dignity. Paul VI in 1968 praised Lebanon's fraternal collaboration, while John Paul II in 1997 called it a model against fundamentalism, essential for regional peace. For Turkey, as a "bridge between East and West," diplomacy promotes dialogue between Islam and Christianity, with John Paul II in 2001 noting its role in countering tensions. Leo XIV's 2025 Apostolic Letter In Unitate Fidei reinforces Nicaea's legacy, calling Christians to transmit faith in harmony for salvation.
Pope Francis's 2024 address to diplomats framed peace as God's gift (Jn 14:27), underscoring expanded relations as steps toward global harmony. These examples illustrate how Catholic diplomacy integrates ecumenism into peace efforts, from bilateral dialogues to multilateral commemorations.
Catholic diplomacy's role in ecumenical peace is profoundly positive, as it humanizes international relations with Gospel principles, reducing divisions that "scandalize the world" and fostering shared witness against violence. By prioritizing dialogue over dominance, it has yielded milestones like resolved doctrinal disputes and joint prayers, enhancing Christianity's credibility as a peace force. Its moral neutrality allows interventions where states falter, as Paul VI noted in persistent efforts despite "difficulties and failures."
Challenges persist: divergences in ecclesiology require ongoing patience, and geopolitical tensions (e.g., Middle East conflicts) test ecumenical gains. Yet, recent sources indicate precedence for newer developments, like synodality, over older ones. Overall, this diplomacy advances Unitatis Redintegratio's vision, making the Church a "credible sign" of Christ's peace amid a "deep yearning" for it.
In conclusion, Catholic diplomacy robustly fosters ecumenical peace through historical commitment, institutional rigor, and practical initiatives, embodying the Church's call to unity as a pathway to reconciliation. As divisions wane and collaborations grow, it invites all Christians to co-build a world of harmony, ever rooted in faith's unifying Creed.