EWTN Theotokos is filled with joy and gratitude to share the wonderful news that His Holiness Pope Leo will make his first Apostolic Journey abroad with a visit to Türkiye and Lebanon later this year. According to an announcement from the Holy See Press Office, the Holy Father will travel to Türkiye from 27 to 30 November 2025, followed by a pastoral visit to Lebanon that will continue until 2 December.
This historic journey marks a moment of deep spiritual significance for the Catholic Church and for the faithful of Türkiye. The Holy Father’s visit will include a pilgrimage to İznik (ancient Nicaea), commemorating the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.)—a milestone event in Christian history where the foundations of the Nicene Creed were laid. For believers in Türkiye and beyond, this anniversary symbolizes the unity of faith and the enduring truth of the Gospel proclaimed across the centuries.
As the Turkish branch of the global EWTN family, we at EWTN Theotokos are profoundly honored and overjoyed to welcome the Successor of Peter to our land, where the early Church once flourished and where the Mother of God, the Theotokos, is believed to have spent her final years in Ephesus. The Pope’s visit will be an occasion of prayer, renewal, and fraternity for all Christians, as well as a bridge of dialogue and peace among peoples of different faiths.
We eagerly look forward to accompanying the Holy Father’s pilgrimage in prayer and media coverage, sharing every moment with our viewers and readers. This visit, rooted in the legacy of the early councils and the witness of the saints, promises to be a sign of hope and communion for the Church in the East and West alike.
May Our Lady, the Theotokos, who watched over the first disciples from her home in Ephesus, intercede for this sacred journey of Pope Leo and for all the people of Türkiye and Lebanon.
Stay tuned with EWTN Theotokos for full coverage, reflections, and live updates as we prepare to welcome the Holy Father to our beloved land.
