Pope Leo
The papal plane of the Ita Airways company, in which about 70 journalists from media around the world are 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).
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.
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.
Upon arrival, Leo XIV will move to the Atatürk Mausoleum, dedicated to the founder of the modern secular State, a stop that both Benedict XVI and Francis have made on their travels.
At 2:10 p.m. a welcome ceremony will take place at the presidential palace, and then an important meeting with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where the delicate situation in the Middle East and mediations for a truce in Ukraine will surely be discussed.
Afterwards, the pope will meet with authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps, and on that occasion, he will deliver his first speech. In the late afternoon you will leave the capital to fly to Istanbul, where you will continue your journey.
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)