Pope Leo XIV began his visit to Turkey on Thursday to begin a four-day visit, marking his first overseas trip as pontiff, as he sets out his global vision and aims to build interfaith ties.
He flew from Rome on Italian flag carrier ITA Airways and arrived in Ankara, where he is to lay a wreath at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish republic. It is customary for foreign dignitaries to visit the site in the Turkish capital.
The pontiff told journalists accompanying him onboard the plane from Rome that he hoped his trip would show "how how important peace is throughout the world," and unite communities, "in spite of differences, in spite of different religions, in spite of different beliefs.”
The pontiff, who will travel on from Turkey to the second leg of his visit to Lebanon, expressed his hope that everyone can “be a part of promoting peace and unity." An American citizen, he wished a happy Thanksgiving to US journalists on the plane and received gifts from the media, including pumpkin pie to mark the US holiday and a kit with slippers and socks of the Pope’s favorite baseball team, the Chicago White Sox, the Holy See's news website reported.
Pope Leo's trip to Turkey - in pictures
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Pope Leo XIV arrives at Ankara Esenboga Airport in Turkey on November 27, marking his first official overseas trip. Reuters -
A welcome ceremony is held for the pontiff. Reuters -
The Pope, seen here greeting reporters aboard the flight, is scheduled for a six-day trip to Turkey and Lebanon. AP -
The Pope lays a wreath during a visit to the mausoleum of modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Ankara. Getty Images -
He is scheduled to meet people from local Catholic communities, as well as political and religious leaders. Getty Images -
The Pope is in Turkey until November 30. Reuters -
Guards of honour at the presidential palace before the Pope's meeting with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. AFP -
The Pope with Mr Erdogan. EPA -
The two men review the guard of honour within the palace complex at Ataturk Forest Farm. Reuters -
Mr Erdogan addresses the pontiff, diplomats and members of civil society at Nation's Library of the Presidency, in Ankara. Reuters -
The pontiff visited the library on the first day of his trip to Turkey. Reuters -
The Pope meets Turkey's President of Religious Affairs, Safi Arpagus, in Ankara. EPA -
The Pope in Istanbul, his next stop in Turkey. AFP -
The Pope is greeted at Istanbul Ataturk Airport. EPA
In Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received the Pope at an official welcome ceremony at the presidential palace, before they hold a private meeting. Talks are to focus on relations between Turkey and the Vatican, as well as “current regional and global developments, particularly Palestine", Burhanettin Duran, head of Turkish government communications, said in a statement posted on social media.
Pope Leo, who succeeded the late Pope Francis in May, will receive members of civil society and the diplomatic corps before making a speech with Mr Erdogan at Turkey’s National library. The pontiff will then meet Turkey’s religious affairs authority, which focuses on the promotion of Islam. Secular in its constitution, Turkey’s population of 86 million is majority Muslim and the country is home to only a couple of hundred thousand Christians.
The pontiff will travel to Istanbul in the evening.
