Pope Leo Visits Turkey on His First Trip as Pontiff

IN PICTURESPope Leo XIV visiting the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.Credit...Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York TimesPope Leo Visits Turkey on His First Trip as PontiffIN PICTURESPope Leo XIV visiting the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.Credit...Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York TimesSKIP Published Nov. 27, 2025Updated Nov. 29, 2025Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States, continued his first international trip as pontiff on Friday, traveling through Turkey as part of a six-day tour that will also include Lebanon.His visit to a region divided by religious differences is being closely scrutinized for signs of where the pope stands on sensitive geopolitical issues.In the biggest diplomatic test of his papacy, Leo is aiming to build bridges with Muslim leaders and Orthodox Christian patriarchs. After meeting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey on Thursday, he is also set to meet President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon later in the trip.SaturdayIstanbul, TurkeyImageCredit...Dilara Senkaya/ReutersPope Leo XIV received a stole, a liturgical vestment, during a ceremony marking the signing of a joint declaration with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, at the Ecumenical Patriarchate.Istanbul, TurkeyImageCredit...Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York TimesPeople receiving the Eucharist during Mass at the Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul.Istanbul, TurkeyImageCredit...Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York TimesPope Leo XIV presides over Holy Mass at the Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul.Istanbul, TurkeyImageCredit...Ozan Kose/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesThe Pope and the Orthodox Patriarch led a doxology ceremony at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George.Istanbul, TurkeyImageCredit...Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York TimesFaithfuls waiting for the arrival of the Pope at the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.FridayIznik, TurkeyImageCredit...Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York TimesPeople waiting to see the Pope.Iznik, TurkeyImageCredit...Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York TimesPope Leo XIV walking alongside Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, leader of the Eastern Orthodox church.Iznik, TurkeyImageCredit...Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York TimesIrati Aguirre, 26, a Spanish pilgrim, drawing a cross in the sand at the ancient ruins of Nicaea ahead of the Pope’s visit.Istanbul, TurkeyImageCredit...Domenico Stinellis/Associated PressPope Leo XIV arriving for a meeting with the clergy at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.Iznik, TurkeyImageCredit...Chris Mcgrath/Getty ImagesSecurity was tight.Istanbul, TurkeyImageCredit...Andreas Solaro/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesPope Leo XIV attended a service at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.Iznik, TurkeyImageCredit...Ozan Kose/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesHe traveled by helicopter to Iznik.ThursdayAnkara, TurkeyImageCredit...Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York TimesPope Leo XIV at the Ataturk Mausoleum.Ankara, TurkeyImageCredit...Chris Mcgrath/Getty ImagesPope Leo XIV giving a speech in the library of the presidential palace.Ankara, TurkeyImageCredit...Adem Altan/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesPope Leo XIV with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.Ankara, TurkeyImageCredit...Domenico Stinellis/Associated PressAt the Ataturk Mausoleum, the burial site of Turkey’s first president.Ankara, TurkeyImageCredit...Burak Kara/Getty ImagesPope Leo XIV laid a wreath at the Ataturk Mausoleum.Ankara, TurkeyImageCredit...Andreas Solaro/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesThe pope arriving in Turkey at the start of his trip.Ankara, TurkeyImageCredit...Efekan Akyuz/ReutersA convoy carrying Pope Leo XIV.Ankara, TurkeyImageCredit...Domenico Stinellis/Associated PressSpeaking to the media on his plane, where two journalists gave him pumpkin pies.SKIP