Ankara: Pope Leo XIV arrived in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Thursday, marking his first official foreign visit since assuming the papacy last May, ahead of a planned visit to Lebanon.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Pope will commence his visit by paying tribute at the mausoleum of Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatrk, followed by an official reception hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Complex, where both sides will discuss bilateral relations between Turkey and the Vatican.

The Pope is also scheduled to meet with officials, civil society representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps, before visiting the Presidency of Religious Affairs to meet its president, Ali Erbas, then depart for Istanbul later in the evening.

On Friday, the Pope will meet bishops, priests, deacons, and other clergy at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in the Harbiye district of Istanbul. He will also visit the French 'House of Charity' before heading by helicopter to the city of Iznik in Bursa Province to attend a mass marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.

On Saturday, the Pope will visit the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) in Istanbul, then head to the historic Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem for a meeting with local church leaders and Christian community representatives. He will conclude his trip on Sunday, departing from Atatrk Airport aboard a special flight to Beirut, the second stop of his regional tour.

Speaking to reporters on board the plane from Rome to Ankara, Pope Leo XIV expressed his hope that the visit would help reinforce the importance of peace for the entire world. He stressed that, despite differences in religions and beliefs, 'we are all brothers,' and called on all peoples to unite for the sake of peace and work collectively toward achieving it.