Pope Leo
The papal plane of the Ita Airways company, in which about 70 journalists from media around the world were traveling, took off from Fiumicino airport in Rome at 7:58 a.m. (6:58 GMT) and landed in Ankara at 12:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m. GMT). Leo XIV’s journey will conclude on December 2.
In front of seat 1A occupied by the pope, the Virgin of Good Counsel of Genazzano was placed, venerated by the Augustinians and whom Leo XIV went to visit on one of his first departures from the Vatican. Francisco was traveling with the Virgin of Bonaria.
Reception with honors in Ankara
The Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church was received when he got off the plane with military honors and by the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
After the official welcome at the airport, a convoy with the pope moved to the Mausoleum of Mustafa “Kemal” Atatürk (1881-1938) in Ankara, dedicated to the founder of the modern secular state of Turkey. Over there,
“I thank God for being able to visit Turkey and I pray for this country and its people an abundance of peace and prosperity,” the pontiff wrote in the mausoleum’s book of honor, according to the Vatican.
Due to the visit to the Mausoleum, Turkish authorities imposed extensive security measures today, with some streets closed to traffic in the Turkish capital from the early hours of the morning.
Then, a welcome ceremony took place at the presidential palace, and later, in a meeting with the Turkish president, the Islamist Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it is expected that the delicate situation in the Middle East and mediations for a truce in Ukraine will be addressed.
The Pope will also meet today with authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps accredited in Ankara, and on that occasion, he will deliver his first speech.
In the late afternoon you will leave the Turkish capital to fly to Istanbul, where you will continue your trip.
Celebration of the 1,700 years of the Council of Nicaea
The reason for the trip is to go to Iznik, ancient Nicaea, for the celebration of the 1,700 years of the first council of Christianity.
On this first trip, the American pontiff will deliver nine speeches, five greetings and two homilies and will speak English in the events and French for the liturgies.
The trip will serve to underline “the dialogue and unity among Christians, the closeness to Catholic communities forged by centuries of history, affected by tragedies and tensions, and peace, a topic that has deeply concerned the Pope since his first appearance in the world and throughout these seven months of pontificate,” summarized the director of the Holy See press office, Matteo Bruni.
CP (efe, afpe)
