• Pope Leo XIV will be making his first overseas tour from November 27 to December 2. He will visit Turkey between November 27- 30, which will include an interdenominational commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.  

November 27 

• Pope Leo XIV is expected to arrive at Ankara’s Esenboga International Airport at 12:30 (local time). 
• He will visit the Ataturk Mausoleum in Cankaya at 13:30 and the Presidential Palace in Yenimahalle at 14:10. 
• He will depart from Ankara’s Esenboga International Airport at 17:35 and is expected to arrive at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport by 19:00. 

November 28 

• The Pope will hold meetings at Sisli’s Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at 09:30. 
• At 10:40, he will visit Sisli’s Little Sisters of the Poor nursing home, after which he will depart for Bursa’s Iznik via helicopter.  
• At 18:30, he will hold private meetings at the Apostolic Delegation (Vatican Mission) in Istanbul’s Sisli.  

November 29 

• He will visit Fatih’s Sultan Ahmed Mosque at 09:00 and then hold a private meeting at Bakirkoy’s Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem at 09:45.  
• He will then be at Fatih’s Patriarchal Church of Saint George at 15:30.  
• At 17:00, he will preside over a mass at Sariyer’s Volkswagen Arena. 

November 30 

• Pope Leo XIV will visit the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral at 09:30 and Fatih’s Patriarchal Church of Saint George at 10:30.  
• A “farewell ceremony” is slated at 14:15 at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, from which Pope Leo XIV will depart at 14:45 and arrive in Beirut at 15:45.  

1. The Pope’s visit is notable as it fulfils the Vatican’s intention to mark the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea and deepen the engagement between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The schedule also underscores the Vatican’s emphasis on interreligious dialogue, as evidenced by the Pope’s planned visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque and engagements with multiple Christian denominations.  
2. FORECAST: Significant travel disruptions are expected in both Ankara and Istanbul. Authorities will likely impose road closures along the Pope’s convoy routes, which may occur at short notice. Temporary restrictions on pedestrian traffic are also anticipated around sites on the itinerary, as well as crowd-management measures. Enhanced security screenings at Ankara’s Esenboga International Airport and Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport are also possible, and this may cause delays and disruptions to operations and passenger services. During this time, there will likely be a bolstered security presence in Ankara and Istanbul to secure the Pope’s visit and deter potential militant attacks, given the jihadist outfit’s previous targeting of Christian sites in Istanbul.  

1. Those operating or residing in Ankara and Istanbul on November 27-30 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance and allot for disruptions to travel due to Pope Leo XIV’s scheduled visit.   
2. Remain cognizant of authorities’ updates regarding road closures and other security measures that may be announced at short notice.