Overview

• The Vatican set the dates for Turkey on Nov. 27–30 with a pilgrimage to İznik marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.
• A meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is expected during the Nicaea commemorations to underscore Catholic–Orthodox ties.
• The Lebanon leg runs Nov. 30–Dec. 2, with the detailed program to be released later; officials say the pope plans to honor victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion.
• Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Pope Leo accepted invitations from heads of state and ecclesiastical authorities in both countries.
• The first American pope is expected to appeal for regional peace and highlight the plight of Middle East Christians, with Gaza-related calls likely to feature.