Pope Leo XIV has chosen Turkiye and Lebanon as the destinations for his first trip abroad as pontiff.

The Vatican said on Tuesday that Leo, the first pope who hails from the United States, will travel to Turkiye from November 27-30, followed by Lebanon from November 30-December 2.

The choice of the two Muslim-majority destinations is viewed as symbolic and rich in meaning for both Christians and Muslims. Both countries are home to ancient Christian communities, and the late Pope Francis had hoped to visit them before his death .

Leo’s visit to Turkiye will come during the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council, held in what is now the Turkish city of Iznik.

He is expected to meet with Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world’s 260 milli

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