Pope Leo XIV Begins First Foreign Trip in Middle East

Pope Leo XIV has chosen Turkey and Lebanon for his first official trip outside the Vatican. The journey commemorates the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a major event in Christian history. The Pope's schedule includes meetings with key religious leaders. A central goal of the trip is to promote interfaith dialogue. The visit also addresses the complex political and regional tensions affecting the Middle East. This underscores the Vatican's focus on diplomacy and peace in the area.