Pope Leo XIV Asks for Prayers Ahead of First Overseas Trip

Pope Leo XIV requested prayers from Catholics on Wednesday as he readies for his inaugural international journey as archbishop of Rome. The trip will take him to Turkey to mark the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and later to Lebanon to engage with local Christian communities.

Today, both Turkey and Lebanon have significant Muslim populations, but historically, they were pivotal in the early church’s formation. Interestingly, about 30 percent of Lebanon’s population still identifies as Christian, predominantly Catholic. Furthermore, the Lebanese constitution mandates that the president be a Maronite Christian. In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to have a private meeting with the Pope, amid growing concerns about the country’s religious tolerance for Christians since the fall of the Byzantine Empire and the secular reforms initiated by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, followed by a rise in Islamism under Erdogan’s leadership.

During his usual Wednesday audience, the Pope emphasized his desire for prayers before departing for Türkiye. He mentioned, “It will be an opportunity to meet the Catholic community, our Christian brothers and sisters, and members of other faiths in commemoration of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.”

The Council of Nicaea, held in 325 AD in what is now Turkey, was a landmark gathering of Christian leaders. Convened by Constantine the Great, it aimed to resolve theological disputes within Christianity, such as the nature of Jesus’ divinity. This council greatly influenced Christian doctrine, giving rise to what is now known as the Nicene Creed, which remains a core declaration of faith for Catholics today.

This historical event holds significant value for both churches, occurring before the Great Schism that separated the Orthodox Churches in Rome and Constantinople. In a letter dated November 23, the Pope highlighted the importance of this anniversary, advocating for greater unity between Catholic and Orthodox Christians.

“It is true that visible and complete unity between the Orthodox Church and the ecclesiastical communities stemming from the Reformation has not yet been realized,” Pope Leo noted. He added, “Nevertheless, dialogue focusing on our shared baptism and the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed has helped us recognize members of other communities as brothers and sisters in Christ, fostering a greater sense of a universal Christian community.”

His message was clear: what unites Christians is far more significant than what divides them. In these challenging times, he believes a united Christian community can serve as a beacon of peace and reconciliation, playing a crucial role in global harmony.

He stressed the necessity for Christians to work together to promote unity and reconciliation, suggesting that the Nicene Creed could serve as a guiding reference on this journey.

The once-Byzantine Empire succumbed to Ottoman Muslim rule in 1453. Today, Turkey, under Erdogan, is notably more Islamist than in previous eras. Nonetheless, the Turkish government appears to welcome the Pope’s visit, as Erdogan plans to meet with him personally. According to reports from Turkey’s state news agency, the discussions will cover “bilateral relations between Turkiye and the Vatican, as well as current regional and global developments, particularly the situation in Palestine.”

While in Turkey, the Pope also plans to visit Istanbul’s Blue Mosque and engage with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. Before returning, he will preside over a mass.

Following his Turkey trip, Pope Leo will head to Lebanon from November 30 to December 2, where he will interact with various Christian communities and visit hospitals. He is expected to pray at the site of the tragic Beirut port explosion that took over 200 lives in 2020.

This visit occurs amid a complicated backdrop for Lebanon. The government is grappling with the rising influence of Hezbollah and has faced increasing attacks from Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz recently warned that if Hezbollah is not disarmed promptly, there would be military intervention.

Katz asserted, “There will be no peace in Beirut and no order and stability in Lebanon unless the security of the State of Israel is guaranteed.”

In his address, Pope Leo described the situation in Lebanon as concerning, urging all parties to reject violence as a means to resolution.

More than 100,000 attendees are anticipated for the mass scheduled for December 2 at Beirut’s waterfront.