CNA Staff, 27 November, 2025 / 11:02 pm (ACI Africa).
Pope Leo XIV began the second day of his international apostolic journey in Turkey on Nov. 28. Watch LIVE the major events of this trip at youtube.com/@ewtnnews and follow our live updates of his historic trip:
Private meeting with chief rabbi of Turkey
Pope Leo XIV had a private conversation with Turkey’s Chief Rabbi David Sevi at the Apostolic Delegation where the pope is staying throughout his sojourn in Istanbul.
Afterward, Leo will have lunch before moving to the airport to board a helicopter for a 30-minute flight to İznik, a town 80 miles southeast of Istanbul, where he will pray with Christian leaders at the site of the historic Council of Nicaea in 325.
The pope visits a nursing home
Pope Leo XIV visits a care home for the elderly run by a community of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 28, 2025, the second day of his apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon. | Credit: AIGAV Pool.“In many social contexts, where efficiency and materialism dominate, the sense of respect for elderly people has been lost,” Leo said in the nursing home’s chapel, in the presence of around 100 sisters, staff, residents, and benefactors.
“In contrast, Sacred Scripture and good traditions teach us that — as Pope Francis loved to repeat — the elderly are the wisdom of a people, a treasure for their grandchildren, families and society as a whole,” he continued in a brief reflection.
The encounter closed with the Hail Mary prayer.
Pope Leo encourages Catholic clergy and religious
November 28, 2025 at 02:12 am ET
Pope Leo XIV speaks at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 28, 2025. | Screenshot: Vatican Media
At the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, Pope Leo XIV encouraged Catholic clergy, religious brothers and sisters, and lay pastoral workers to see the Catholic community’s small size as a strength.
“The logic of littleness is the Church’s true strength,” he said during a prayer service. “I therefore encourage you to cultivate a spiritual attitude of confident hope, rooted in faith and in union with God.”
Watch: Bishop Gregory Mansour on what Maronites expect of Pope Leo
Upon completing his visit to Turkey, Pope Leo XIV will travel to Lebanon, where he will meet with members of the Maronite Church.
Speaking to EWTN News Nightly, Bishop Gregory Mansour, Eparch of the Maronite Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn, reflects on how Maronite Catholics may view this visit.
