The American pontiff begins his first international apostolic journey with stops in Turkey and Lebanon, a symbolic gesture for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea that seeks to build bridges of dialogue in the Middle East.

Pope Leo XIV landed at Ankara’s Esenboğa International Airport on Thursday at 12:22 p.m. local time, beginning his first apostolic journey outside Italy as the successor of Peter. The papal flight, named “Shepherd One” in a nod to American tradition, arrived from Rome and carried not only the pontiff but also a delegation of more than 80 journalists from around the world, eager to cover this milestone in a global context marked by geopolitical tensions and aspirations for reconciliation.

Just 20 minutes after takeoff from Fiumicino, the Pope emerged smiling from behind the curtains that divide the aircraft’s sections, waving his hand in a gesture of immediate warmth. “Good morning to the Americans here! Happy Thanksgiving!” he exclaimed in his characteristic accent, evoking his roots in his native Chicago. November 27, the date that coincides with Thanksgiving Day in the United States, did not go unnoticed by the first American pontiff in the history of the Church.

In a brief exchange with the press, Leo XIV expressed his gratitude for the role of the media in disseminating messages of truth and harmony. “Thank you for your service to the Vatican, to the Holy See, to me personally, and to the entire world,” he said, emphasizing journalistic responsibility in times of polarization. This trip, which will continue until December 2 with visits to Turkey and Lebanon, takes on special significance as it commemorates the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea—the first ecumenical council of Christendom, held in what is now Turkey in 325—a foundational event for the unity of the faith.

Although the Pope has extensive experience in missionary journeys as an Augustinian prior, this is his first official visit to both nations. “I eagerly await this moment because of its importance for Christians and for the world in promoting peace,” he confessed. In words filled with hope, he added: “In a special way, my presence, the presence of the Church, and the presence of the faithful in Turkey and Lebanon seeks to announce, transmit, and proclaim how vital peace is throughout the world. We invite all people to join in the search for greater unity, greater harmony, and to find ways for all men and women to truly be brothers and sisters, despite our differences, despite our different religions or beliefs.”

The motto of the journey, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism”—inspired by the Letter to the Ephesians—encapsulates the spirit of fraternity and dialogue between East and West. Leo XIV emphasized that “we can all be part of promoting peace and unity,” concluding his remarks with renewed thanks to the press for accompanying “this historic moment.”

The excitement among the reporters was palpable. Valentina Alazraki, a veteran Mexican journalist who has covered more than 163 papal trips since 1979, welcomed the Pope on behalf of the press corps and presented him with a Byzantine icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. “He’s a North American Pope with a Latin American heart,” she joked, alluding to his cultural heritage. The 68-year-old pontiff walked down the narrow aisle of the plane, greeting everyone individually: handshakes, laughter, jokes, and selfies abounded in an atmosphere of camaraderie.

The gifts arrived quickly, turning the flight into an impromptu celebration. Among them were a pumpkin Thanksgiving pie; a kit with slippers and socks from his favorite baseball team, the Chicago White Sox; a family baseball bat from the 1950s that belonged to MLB star Nellie Fox, which prompted a laugh from the Pope: “How did security get this through?”; two frames with photo collages from his childhood and missionary days; a touching letter from Ignacio Gonzálvez, a 15-year-old with aggressive lymphoma whom the Pope visited at the Vatican Children’s Hospital during the Jubilee of Youth; an ancestral Spanish coat of arms from a colleague; and a scroll from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Kharkiv, thanking the Vatican for its aid to Ukraine during the war.

In a personal touch, the Pope told a journalist of Algerian origin, “I hope to visit your country soon.” These brief but profound exchanges reflect the approachable style of Leo XIV, forged during his years as a missionary in Latin America.

After a flight of just three hours, the Pope landed in Ankara under cloudy skies, where he was received with full protocol honors by the Apostolic Nuncio and the Turkish Chief of Protocol. His agenda in the capital includes a visit to the Atatürk Mausoleum—the tomb of Mustafa Kemal, the founder of modern Turkey—; a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; an address to Turkish authorities, representatives of civil society, and the diplomatic corps; and a transfer to Istanbul to continue his itinerary.

This trip is not just a diplomatic act, but a prophetic cry in a Middle East ravaged by conflict. In Lebanon, the Pope will land on Friday, in a country wounded by political instability and a humanitarian crisis. “May it be a message of unity for the world,” reiterated Leo XIV, inviting believers and non-believers alike to join the cause of peace. In a fractured world, the gesture of a Pope crossing borders could be the bridge so desperately needed.