The first Pope from the United States will visit Turkey from November 27 to 30, and then continue to Lebanon from November 30 to December 2.

In Turkey, the Pope will celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea a historic gathering of church leaders that produced key teachings on Christian faith.

The Vatican announced that Pope Leo will visit the city of Iznik (the ancient Nicaea) to mark the anniversary and will meet with Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Orthodox Christians.

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Speaking to journalists in Castel Gandolfo, Leo said his visit to Lebanon would be an opportunity to deliver a message of peace to the Middle East, describing the country as “deeply shaken,” and that he would focus on peace and hope during his stay.

The Pope explained that his visit to Turkey will center on celebrating the Council of Nicaea and serve as “a moment of true unity in faith” among all Christians. “We cannot afford to waste this moment in history,” he said. “It is not about looking back, but about facing the future.”

The Vatican said the invitation for Pope Leo to visit Turkey and Lebanon came from both government and church leaders of those countries. Both nations were also among the destinations Pope Francis had planned to visit before health issues prevented him from doing so.

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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, a member of the Maronite Church, extended the invitation to Pope Leo when the two met at the Vatican in June. Lebanon has a large Christian population, with Maronites being the majority group, and the Vatican has long paid close attention to the country's political situation.

In August, Pope Leo sent a message commemorating the 200 victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and he is expected to pay his respects to them while in Lebanon.

Although the detailed schedule of his trip has not yet been released, the visit will provide an opportunity for the Catholic Church to exercise its diplomatic influence, with the Pope expected to meet political leaders, hold interfaith discussions, and offer support to Catholics in both countries.