Pope Leo XIV will meet Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I during his upcoming visit to Türkiye and Lebanon, marking his first apostolic journey abroad since his election, the Vatican announced on Tuesday.

The six-day trip, scheduled from November 27 to December 2, will include a joint pilgrimage to the Turkish city of İznik (ancient Nicaea) on November 28 to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a defining event in Christian history that produced the Nicene Creed.

According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, the Pope accepted invitations from the heads of state and church leaders in both countries. Press Office Director Matteo Bruni said the visit would also include time in Istanbul, where Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew will celebrate the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle on November 30 at the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Phanar district.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Ecumenical Patriarchate expressed its “joy at the forthcoming visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV of Rome to Türkiye,” noting that it comes “in response to the expressed wish and invitation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to commemorate together the historic 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council convened in Nicaea.”

The Patriarchate confirmed that the two Primates will travel together to Nicaea of Bithynia on November 28, before the Pope’s official visit to the See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the Phanar on November 29 and 30, where they will jointly celebrate the Feast of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, founder of the Church of Constantinople.

Pope Leo will be the fifth pontiff to visit Türkiye, following Pope Francis’ 2014 trip aimed at strengthening ties with Orthodox and Muslim leaders.

Following his visit to Türkiye, Pope Leo will travel to Lebanon, where he will stay until December 2. The Vatican has not yet released the full itinerary for that leg of the journey.