Pope Leo XIV has begun his first apostolic visit to the Middle East. The Pope departed on Thursday morning on an Ita Airways flight, first heading to Turkey and then to Lebanon. On board, he was accompanied by a large contingent of journalists. The Pope greeted the 81 representatives of the international media accompanying him on his 'pilgrimage' through the Middle East. He noted it was a wonderful day to celebrate and began by thanking everyone for their service to the Vatican, the Holy See, and the world. The motto for the Pope's first international apostolic visit is 'Testimony and Encounter.' The visit to Turkey will focus on the celebration of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, while in the country of cedars, one of the most moving moments will be the 'silent prayer' in the Port of Beirut, where five years ago an explosion killed more than 200 people and injured 7,000. According to Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, the Pontiff's visit will bring hope, peace, and a new impetus to Christians in the Middle East.
