STORY: Pope Leo began his first trip outside Italy as Catholic leader on Thursday (November 27) with a visit to Turkey, where he is expected to make appeals for peace in the Middle East and urge unity among long-divided Christian churches.

The first U.S. pope chose mainly Muslim Turkey as his first overseas destination to mark the 1,700th anniversary of a landmark early Church council there that produced the Nicene Creed, still used by most of the world's Christians today.

Leo, who has a crowded three-day itinerary in Turkey before heading on to Lebanon, will be closely watched as he makes his first speeches overseas and visits sensitive cultural sites.

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VIDEO SHOWS: POPE LEO ARRIVING IN ANKARA, TURKEY

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SHOWS: ANKARA, TURKEY (NOVEMBER 27, 2025) (HOST BROADCASTER - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF POPE LEO DISEMBARKING PLANE, BEING GREETED BY OFFICIALS

2. VIEW OF PLANE ON TARMAC / POPE AND OFFICIALS ON TARMAC

3. POPE BEING GREETED BY OFFICIALS

4. OFFICIAL SALUTING POPE