Pope Leo XIV is heading to Turkey on Thursday on his first foreign trip, fulfilling the late Pope Francis’ plans to mark an important Orthodox anniversary and bring a message of peace to the region at a crucial time for efforts to end the war in Ukraine and ease Mideast tensions.

The pope reiterated the Vatican's stance in support of an independent Palestinian state aboard his plane to Lebanon.

Tap on the blue circle to take a look at photos from the funeral for Pope Francis. 1 of 28 The coffin of Pope Francis arrives at St. Mary Major Basilica for his burial ceremony, in Rome, Saturday, April 26, 2025. Valerie Herrera, who has struggled with the ...

Five years after Beirut port tragedy, families look to Pope Leo to keep justice alive as the pontiff prepares to pray at the site of the Aug. 4, 2020, blast that killed 200 people.

The Holy Father thanked the sisters for their Christlike service and expressed closeness to the residents they care for.

Pope Leo XIV was seen arriving at the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in central Istanbul on Saturday morning during his visit to Turkey. (AP Video/Nick Dumitrache)

Pope Leo XIV traveled Friday to join Orthodox patriarchs in commemorating an important moment in Christian history, gathering at the site in Turkey of an unprecedented A.D. 325 meeting of bishops to pray that Christians might once again be reunited.