The ITA Airways flight carrying the Pontiff, his entourage, and journalists took off at 7:58 a.m. Rome time from Fiumicino airport and has already arrived in Ankara. During the flight, he greeted the journalists accompanying him. Turkish President Erdogan welcomed him at the Presidential Palace, and in the afternoon he has a meeting with the authorities. He will then fly to Istanbul.
Fifth Pontiff to visit Turkey
Pope Leo XIV is the fifth Pontiff to visit Turkey, and the motto of his trip to this country is ‘One Lord, one faith, one baptism.’ The Pope fulfilled Francis' wish to return to Turkey in May 2025, following his 2014 visit, for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.
The highlight will be Iznik, at the archaeological excavations of the ancient Basilica of St. Neophytus. There, the Pope, together with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, will pray tomorrow with some twenty patriarchs and representatives of Christian churches before icons of Christ and the Council and the lighting of a candle.
Gift to the Pope of an icon of the Virgin of Guadalupe
During the flight, Mexican journalist Valentina Alazraki, who has traveled extensively and followed popes for many years, asked Leo XIV to establish a more human relationship. The goal is to be “better bridges between you and the world and all the countries we represent.”.
“We are giving you a Byzantine icon of the Virgin of Guadalupe,” he said, "to guide the steps of an American pope, American by birth, South American at heart. Welcome, and thank you very much.".
Message of peace and unity from the plane
In his opening remarks, the Pope emphasized that “this particular trip to Turkey and Lebanon has, as you know, first and foremost, the very meaning of unity in celebrating the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. I have eagerly awaited this trip because of what it means for all Christians. But it is also a great message for the whole world, especially with the presence of myself, the Church, and believers in both Turkey and Lebanon.”.
“We also hope to announce, convey, and proclaim how important peace is throughout the world,” he added. “And to invite all people to come together to seek greater unity, greater harmony, and to seek ways in which all men and women can truly be brothers and sisters.”.
“Despite our differences, despite our different religions, despite our different beliefs, we are all brothers and sisters, and we hope to contribute to promoting peace and unity throughout the world,” he said briefly.
The Pontiff has confirmed to some journalists his intention to travel to Spain.
Telegrams to countries
During the flight to Turkey, as is customary on papal trips, Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to the presidents of the countries he was flying over. For example, to the president of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, he pointed out that his trip aims to “meet with the people, especially with brothers and sisters in faith, encouraging paths of peace and fraternity.”.
Afterwards, greetings were extended to the leading dignitaries of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bulgaria, to whose president, Rumen Radev, he assured “my prayers» that God would bless the nation with the gifts of unity, joy, and peace.
Arrival in Ankara and visit to Atatürk's mausoleum
Pope Leo XIV was welcomed at Ankara airport by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He then visited the mausoleum of Atatürk, founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey, signed the guest book with these words: “I thank God for being able to visit Turkey, and I invoke abundant peace and prosperity upon this country and its people.”.
In the afternoon, a meeting will be held with the authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps in Turkey.
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