"Pope Leo will make his debut overseas trip as leader of the Catholic church on Thursday, travelling on a six-day mission of peace and unity to Turkey and Lebanon in what the Vatican said was expected to be a demanding schedule packed with meetings with political and religious leaders amid heightened Middle East tensions. In Turkey, a country with a Muslim majority and home to an estimated 36,000 Catholics,"
"He will also meet Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world's 260 million Orthodox Christians, for celebrations of the 1,700th anniversary of a major early church council in Nicaea, now Iznik, which settled ideological disputes. Leo's arrival is especially anticipated in Lebanon, where many fear a deepening conflict between Israel and Hezbollah after an Israeli strike earlier this week on a neighbourhood in southern Beirut that killed four Hezbollah operatives and one of the group's most senior military commanders."
"Leo's predecessor, Francis, who died in April, had planned to visit both countries but was unable to because of ill health. Leo is considered more of a moderate, low-key operator than the charismatic but often divisive Francis, and the choice of Turkey and Lebanon for his first overseas trip is highly strategic, while also presenting an opportunity for the pope to show the world his style and personality."
Pope Leo will make his first overseas trip as leader of the Catholic Church, traveling to Turkey and Lebanon for six days to promote peace and unity. The schedule is expected to be demanding with meetings with political and religious leaders amid heightened Middle East tensions. In Turkey, he will meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Patriarch Bartholomew for celebrations marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. In Lebanon, arrival is highly anticipated amid fears of escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah after a recent Israeli strike in southern Beirut. The trip offers a strategic chance to project a moderate, low-key papal style.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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