Fresh off of Pope Leo XIV’s first international trip, Senior Vatican Correspondent Gerard O’Connell joins host Colleen Dulle to unpack Pope Leo’s messages of unity and peace in Turkey and Lebanon.
The papal visit to Turkey was centered on the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the source of the Nicene Creed that is still used by most Christians today. At the commemoration, Pope Leo stressed the unity of Christians and called for an ecumenical gathering in the year 2033 to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of the Resurrection. Gerry and Colleen also analyze Pope Leo’s visit to the Blue Mosque, where he did not appear to pray, even though his predecessors had.
In the latter half of the show, Colleen and Gerry look at Pope Leo’s consistent message of peace for Lebanon, which is currently in a state of fragile ceasefire. The hosts also discuss Pope Leo’s press conference on the return flight to Rome, where he spoke about the conclave that elected him and commented on President Trump’s threats against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Links from the show:
Ahead of Pope Leo’s trip, a look at Christian life in Muslim-majority Turkey
Pope Leo in Turkey and Lebanon: What to know about his first foreign trip
Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew urge Christian unity at Nicaea commemoration
In Turkey, Pope Leo pushes for unity and peace—within and beyond Christianity
Pope Leo addresses Gaza, Ukraine and hopes for Christian unity in first plane press conference
Pope Leo makes a strong pitch for peace in war-threatened Lebanon
Pope Leo preaches peace as he visits young people and religious sites in Lebanon
Pope Leo meets survivors of Beirut port explosion and calls for peace as he concludes Lebanon visit
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts