According to the Vatican, the trip will take place from November 27 to December 2. The Pope will spend the first leg in Turkey from November 27–30 and continue to Lebanon from November 30–December 2. While in Turkey, he will visit the town of Iznik, the modern site of ancient Nicaea where the foundational Nicene Creed was adopted and continues to be recited by Christians around the world.

Pope Leo is expected to meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of nearly 300 million Eastern Orthodox Christians. Their meeting is anticipated to focus on fostering greater unity between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

Speaking to reporters at Castel Gandolfo, the Pope said his trip would bring “a message of peace in the Middle East in a country that has suffered so much,” referring to Lebanon. He emphasized that his visits would highlight themes of peace, hope, and interfaith understanding.

“We must not miss this historic moment,” Leo stated. “It is not to look back, it is to look forward.”

The Vatican said the pontiff’s itinerary is being finalized, but confirmed he will meet both civil and religious leaders in Turkey and Lebanon. The President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, a Maronite Christian extended the official invitation to the Pope during a meeting in the Vatican earlier this year.

Lebanon holds deep symbolic significance for the Vatican due to its large Christian population, particularly the Maronite community. In August, Pope Leo sent a message commemorating the victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and he is expected to pay tribute to them during his visit.

The trip comes amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East and global religious divisions. Rev. John Chryssavgis, adviser to Patriarch Bartholomew, said the visit reflects Leo’s commitment to expressing “his Christian identity in a world of many creeds, where all people are called to live together in mutual understanding.”

The Pope also commented on the second anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, calling for efforts to reduce hatred and encourage dialogue. He described antisemitism as “deeply worrying” and reiterated that the Church must continue to seek “peaceful solutions.”

Leo’s remarks followed criticism from Israel’s Embassy to the Holy See over statements by Cardinal Parolin, who described the ongoing situation in Gaza as an “inhuman massacre.” Pope Leo defended the cardinal, saying, “The cardinal expressed the Holy See’s opinion very well.”

Both Turkey and Lebanon were countries Pope Francis had hoped to visit before his health declined, making Pope Leo’s trip a continuation of long-standing Vatican diplomatic outreach in the region.

The Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Lebanon welcomed the upcoming visit, calling it “a sign of unity for all Lebanese, Christians and Muslims alike, at this critical stage in our nation’s history.”