Immediately following the official welcoming ceremony at Ankara International Airport on Thursday morning, Pope Leo XIV visited the city’s Atatürk Mausoleum – or Anıtkabir (literally, “commemorative tomb”) – accompanied by an official delegation that included the Minister, the Vice Governor, and the Commander of the Mausoleum.

The Pope is on the first day of his six-day visit to Turkey and Lebanon, his first apostolic journey abroad. The memorial holds great significance for Turks, as it honors the founder of modern Turkey and symbolizes the nation’s birth, modernization, and secularism.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is revered as the “Father of the Turks” for leading the Turkish National Movement, establishing the Republic of Turkey in 1923 and serving as its first president.

The site is also the final resting place of İsmet İnönü, the second President of Turkey, who was buried there after his death in 1973. His grave is located opposite Atatürk’s Mausoleum, on the opposite side of the Ceremonial Precinct.

Anıtkabir consists of four main parts: the Lions’ Way, the Ceremonial Square, the Hall of Honor (location of Atatürk’s tomb) and the Peace Park surrounding the monument.