Pope Leo XIV Begins First-Ever Apostolic Visit to Türkiye
Pope Leo XIV has travelled from Rome to Türkiye, departing Fiumicino Airport at 7:58 a.m. on Thursday aboard an ITA Airways Airbus A320neo. Inside the aircraft, the partitions displayed the image of Our Mother of Good Counsel, a Marian title beloved by the Augustinians and deeply rooted in their centuries-old shrine in Genazzano. The icon—originally from Shkodër, Albania—served as a meaningful reminder of the Pope’s devotion as he embarked on this significant Apostolic Journey.
That devotion is not new. Just two days after his election as Successor of Peter, Pope Leo XIV visited the shrine in Genazzano, praying before the ancient image entrusted to the Augustinian community since the thirteenth century. The quiet pilgrimage revealed the Pope’s profound reliance on the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and set a spiritual tone for his pontificate.
Upon arriving in Türkiye, the Holy Father’s first stop will be in Ankara, where he is scheduled to visit the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the modern Republic. This symbolic gesture underscores the Pope’s commitment to dialogue, respect, and the search for peace in a region facing complex political realities.
Following the visit, Pope Leo XIV will proceed to the Presidential Palace for an official welcome and an address to civil authorities and the diplomatic corps. He will then fly to Istanbul, where he will stay at the Apostolic Nunciature for the remainder of his time in Türkiye before continuing his Apostolic Journey to Lebanon.
