VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV will visit Turkey and Lebanon next month on the first foreign trip of his papacy, the Vatican announced Tuesday, in a gesture aimed at strengthening Christian-Muslim dialogue and honoring his predecessor’s unfulfilled plans.

The visit, scheduled for Nov. 27 to Dec. 2, will include stops in Turkey and Lebanon, two countries with deep historical and spiritual ties to Christianity.

In Turkey, the pontiff will make a pilgrimage to Iznik to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea, Christianity’s first ecumenical council held in 325 A.D.

The event is considered a foundational moment for both Catholic and Orthodox churches, predating the schisms that divided Eastern and Western Christianity.

Former Pope Francis had planned to mark the occasion with a trip to Turkey at the invitation of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians, but passed away in April.

Leo XIV, the first American pope, pledged to carry out Francis’ intended journeys.

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun confirmed the visit, saying the pope will arrive in Beirut on Nov. 30 following his stay in Turkey.

The Vatican said the full itinerary will be released at a later date.

Focus on peace in the Middle East

The announcement coincided with the anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel, offering the pontiff an opportunity to address the ongoing war in Gaza and broader regional instability.

Leo XIV has repeatedly called for peace and dialogue across the Middle East and expressed solidarity with civilians caught in the conflict.

Lebanon, the only Arab country with a Christian head of state, has the highest percentage of Christians in the Middle East and hosts over a million Syrian and Palestinian refugees.

The country is still reeling from years of economic crisis and a recent war with Israel that ended in November under a U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes continue on Lebanese territory amid tensions with Hezbollah, which has resisted calls to disarm until Israel withdraws from occupied border points.

A message of unity

Patriarch Bechara Boutros Raï, head of Lebanon’s Maronite Church, said the country awaits the pope’s visit “with great joy and renewed hope.”

“We hope that this apostolic visit will bring peace and stability and be a sign of unity for all Lebanese, Christians and Muslims alike,” Raï said.

The last papal visit to Lebanon was by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. — Agencies