Pope Leo cautions about conflicts threatening humanity during his inaugural overseas journey

Pope Leo expressed concern during his inaugural trip outside Italy as the Catholic leader on Thursday, noting the alarming prevalence of violent conflicts around the globe. He cautioned that a third world war was being “fought piecemeal,” putting the future of humanity in jeopardy.

In his inaugural speech delivered abroad since his election in May to guide the 1.4 billion-member Church, Leo, the first U.S. pope, remarked that “ambitions and choices that trample on justice and peace” were causing instability in the world.

He informed political leaders in Turkey that the world is facing “an increased level of conflict on the global stage, driven by existing strategies of economic and military power”.

TRIP CELEBRATES 1,700TH ANNIVERSARY OF NICENE CREED

“We cannot, under any circumstances, yield to this,” he urged during an event with President Tayyip Erdogan following their private meeting. “The fate of humanity hangs in the balance.”

Erdogan, addressing the pope, expressed his appreciation for the pope’s insightful position on the Palestinian issue and conveyed his hope that the visit would serve humanity positively during this period of tension and uncertainty.

In September, Leo engaged with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the Vatican and brought up the “tragic situation” in Gaza during their conversation.

The first U.S. pope selected predominantly Muslim Turkey as his inaugural overseas destination to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of a significant early Church council that resulted in the Nicene Creed, which remains in use by the majority of Christians worldwide today.

Leo, 70, arrived in the capital Ankara just after midday (0900 GMT) to kick off a busy three-day schedule in Turkey before continuing on to Lebanon. His initial speeches abroad and visits to delicate cultural sites will be under careful scrutiny.

Papal journeys overseas capture worldwide interest.

While addressing journalists on the papal flight from Rome, Leo expressed his desire to utilize his inaugural overseas journey to advocate for global peace and to inspire individuals from diverse backgrounds to coexist in harmony.

“We aspire to… announce, transmit, and proclaim the significance of peace across the globe,” the pope stated at the outset of the three-hour flight. “And to encourage everyone to unite, to seek deeper connections and enhanced harmony.”

Foreign travel has emerged as a significant aspect of the contemporary papacy, with popes drawing global attention as they preside over events that attract crowds numbering in the millions, deliver foreign policy addresses, and engage in international diplomacy.

“This trip holds significant importance as we still lack clarity on Leo’s geopolitical perspectives, and it presents a crucial opportunity for him to articulate them,” Massimo Faggioli, an Italian academic who monitors the Vatican, shared with Reuters.

LEO TO MEET WITH THE ORTHODOX PATRIARCH

In May, the world’s Catholic cardinals elected Leo to succeed the late Pope Francis. Before his election, Leo was relatively unknown on the world stage, having spent decades as a missionary in Peru and only becoming a Vatican official in 2023.

Francis had intended to travel to Turkey and Lebanon, but his declining health prevented him from making the trip.

Francis, who guided the global Church for 12 years, frequently remarked that the conflicts erupting worldwide represented a new “piecemeal” world war and called for an end to wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, and throughout Africa, among other regions.

On Thursday evening, he will depart for Istanbul, the residence of Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the 260 million Orthodox Christians worldwide.

In 1054, Orthodox and Catholic Christians experienced a division known as the East-West Schism; however, in recent decades, there has been a concerted effort to foster closer relationships between the two traditions.

On Friday, Leo and Bartholomew journey to Iznik, located 140 km (90 miles) southeast of Istanbul, formerly known as Nicaea. It is here that early church leaders established the Nicene Creed, outlining the fundamental beliefs that continue to define the majority of Christians today.

During the flight to Ankara, two journalists offered the American pope pumpkin pies, a traditional dish associated with the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday occurring on Thursday.

Peace will be a central theme of the Lebanese leg.

The pope’s visit to Lebanon, commencing on Sunday, is anticipated to center around the theme of peace.

Lebanon, home to the highest proportion of Christians in the Middle East, has been significantly affected by the repercussions of the Gaza conflict.

On Sunday, Israel conducted an airstrike in a southern suburb of Beirut, resulting in the death of the leading military figure in Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shi’ite Muslim militant group, despite a year-long truce brokered by the U.S.

On Monday, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni stated that appropriate security measures were being implemented to guarantee the pope’s safety during his visit to Lebanon, though he refrained from discussing specific details.

Leaders in Lebanon, home to 1 million Syrian and Palestinian refugees and grappling with the aftermath of years of economic crisis, are concerned that Israel may significantly intensify its strikes in the months ahead. They are hopeful that the papal visit could draw global attention to the situation in the country.