Rome, Oct 27 (AP) Pope Leo XIV is set to visit the site of the devastating 2020 port blast in Beirut, which claimed over 200 lives and intensified Lebanon's political and economic turmoil. This marks his inaugural foreign trip as pope next month, which will also include a visit to Turkiye to commemorate a significant anniversary with Orthodox Christians.
The Vatican released the details of Pope Leo XIV’s trip, scheduled for November 27 to December 2. During this journey, he will focus on interfaith and ecumenical dialogue, address the difficulties faced by Christians in the Middle East, and comment on regional tensions.
Pope Francis, who passed away earlier this year, had originally planned to visit both Lebanon and Turkiye. He had a long-standing desire to travel to Lebanon, but the country's ongoing crises delayed his visit.
The primary reason for Pope Leo’s visit to Turkiye is to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council of Christianity. From the start of his papacy, Leo committed to honoring the goals set by Francis and has arranged for several prayers with Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians.
Pope Leo will journey to Nicaea, now known as Iznik, on November 28 via helicopter, where he will hold a brief prayer service near the archaeological sites of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos.
A Visit to the Armenian Cathedral in Istanbul
In Turkiye, a key event is Leo's prayer service on November 30 at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Istanbul. Unlike Francis, who did not visit the cathedral during his 2014 trip, he controversially referred to the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as "the first genocide of the 20th century" a year later.
Historians estimate that as many as 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks during World War I, recognized by many scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkiye disputes this, claiming the toll is exaggerated and that the deaths occurred during war and unrest, not as genocide. The Turkish government has launched efforts to dissuade countries, including the Vatican, from recognizing the Armenian massacre as genocide.
Pope Leo has avoided controversy during the initial six months of his papacy, so how he addresses this sensitive subject will be closely observed.
A Prayer at the Site of the Beirut Port Blast
In addition to official meetings with Turkish and Lebanese leaders, Catholic clergy, and liturgies, Pope Leo’s visit to the August 4, 2020, Beirut port blast site stands out. The explosion occurred when tons of ammonium nitrate detonated, killing at least 218 people, injuring over 6,000, and causing extensive damage to Beirut.
The blast, perceived as a result of governmental negligence, incited public outrage amid Lebanon’s already severe economic crisis caused by years of corruption and financial malfeasance. The investigation into the blast's cause has stalled, with no official held accountable five years later.
Pope Leo will hold a Mass on the Beirut waterfront and tour areas near the Lebanese capital. Notably, he will not visit Lebanon's south, which suffered during last year’s conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Places Omitted from the Itinerary in Both Lebanon and Turkiye
While the war primarily affected Shiite communities loyal to Hezbollah, Christian areas were also damaged, prompting local Christian groups to urge the pope to visit the region. In Turkiye, Pope Leo will not visit the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, a landmark visited by previous popes. Initially a Greek Orthodox basilica, then a mosque, and later a museum, its status changed back to a mosque in 2020 by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration. At that time, Francis expressed sadness over the decision. Although there are preservation efforts for its historic domes, Hagia Sophia remains accessible to both visitors and worshippers. Pope Leo plans to visit the nearby Blue Mosque. (AP) SKS SKS
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