Pope Leo XIV is heading to Turkey on Thursday on his first foreign trip, fulfilling the late Pope Francis’ plans to mark an important Orthodox anniversary and bring a message of peace to the region at a crucial time for efforts to end the war in Ukraine and ease Mideast tensions.

Rather than his native Chicago or adopted Peru, Pope Leo XIV is making his first foreign trip to Turkey and Lebanon, putting him on tricky terrain shared by Muslims and Jews.

Pope Leo begins his first trip outside Italy as Catholic leader on Thursday with a visit to Turkey, where he is expected to make appeals for peace in the Middle East and urge unity among long-divided Christian churches.

Pope Leo XIV makes historic first foreign trip to Turkey and Lebanon, marking 1,700 years since Council of Nicaea while supporting persecuted Christians.

Leo XIV's trip this week to Turkey and Lebanon, his first abroad as pope, is viewed as a sign of hope in a region struggling with violence and division.

Eastern and Western branches of Christianity later dramatically split, but during this trip there will be messages of togetherness and healing divisions. In Turkey the Pope will also visit the Blue Mosque,

Pope Leo XIV has picked war-torn Lebanon as part of his first official trip abroad, aiming to call for unity and help preserve the country.

Pope Leo XIV begins a six-day visit to Turkey and Lebanon on Thursday, his first foreign trip since his election and one on which he’s expected to emphasize key themes of his fledgling pontificate – among them dialogue and unity.