Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has said that his recent Apostolic Journey to Turkiye and Lebanon shows that lasting peace can be achieved when people work together across faiths and cultures. He shared this reflection during the Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, thanking everyone who supported the visit and prayed for its success.
Speaking about his time in Turkiye , Pope recalled praying alongside Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and representatives of various Christian traditions at the historic site of the Council of Nicaea in present-day Iznik. He also noted that the day marked the 60th anniversary of the landmark declaration between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, which ended centuries-old excommunications.
“Let us give thanks to God and renew our commitment to the journey toward the full visible unity of all Christians,” he said. He praised the Catholic community in Türkiye for its dedication to dialogue and service, especially toward those experiencing hardship.
Turning to Lebanon, Pope described the nation as “a mosaic of coexistence” and said the spirit of unity he witnessed there offered hope. He highlighted his encounters with people who live the Gospel through acts of compassion, including welcoming displaced families, supporting prisoners, and aiding those in poverty.
Pope said he was especially touched by the meeting with families of victims of the Beirut port explosion. Although he aimed to offer encouragement, he shared that the faith and perseverance of the Lebanese people gave him even greater strength.
Reflecting on the journey, Pope Leo XIV said the visit reaffirmed a central message.
“What has taken place in recent days in Türkiye and Lebanon teaches us that peace is possible,” he concluded. “Christians, in dialogue with men and women of other faiths and cultures, can help to build it.”