3+ hour, 54+ min ago (1139+ words) Pope Leo XIV plans to pray at an Armenian Apostolic cathedral in Istanbul in a gesture supporting Christian unity and Christian minorities in Turkey Beyond its ecumenical symbolism, the visit also may signal quiet support of ongoing efforts to heal century-old wounds between Turkey and Armenia, long scarred by mass killings and decades of mistrust, observers note. An estimated 1.5 million Armenians died in massacres, deportations and forced marches that began in 1915 in Ottoman Turkey. Historians widely view the event as genocide. Turkey denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and those killed were victims of civil war and unrest. It has lobbied to prevent countries from officially recognizing the massacres as genocide. Pope Francis did not visit any Armenian sites during his visit to Turkey in 2014, but on his way to the airport before departing he…...

17+ hour, 32+ min ago (916+ words) Pope Leo XIV is wrapping up his visit to Turkey before heading to Lebanon Leo had two key appointments in Istanbul before flying to Beirut: a prayer at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and a divine liturgy with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, whose invitation to commemorate an important Christian anniversary was the impetus for Leo's visit. On the second leg of his maiden papal trip, Leo was visiting Lebanon at a precarious moment for the small Mediterranean country after years of successive crises. He is fulfilling a promise of Pope Francis, who had wanted to visit for years but was unable to as his health worsened. Francis often quoted St. John Paul II, who in 1989 said Lebanon was more than just a country, it was a "message" " a message of fraternity and coexistence. Under Lebanon's…...

1+ day, 1+ hour ago (760+ words) Pope Leo XIV is visiting Istanbul's Blue Mosque The head of Turkey's Diyanet religious affairs directorate showed Leo the soaring tiled domes of the 17th-century mosque and the Arabic inscriptions on its columns, as Leo nodded in understanding. The Vatican had said Leo would observe a "brief minute of silent prayer" there, but it didn't appear that he had. The imam of the mosque, Asgin Tunca, said he had invited Leo to pray, since the mosque was "Allah's house," but the pope declined. Speaking to reporters after the visit, Tunca said he had told the pope: "It's not my house, not your house, (it's the) house of Allah," he said. He said he told Leo: "'If you want, you can worship here,' I said. But he said, "That's OK." "He wanted to see the mosque, wanted to feel (the) atmosphere…...

1+ day, 6+ hour ago (304+ words) Pope Leo XIV started the second day of his trip to Turkey with a visit to Istanbul's Blue Mosque on Saturday. This is the pope's first foreign trip. He will also visit Lebanon. Leo, history's first American pope, is expected to speak in broader terms about peace in the Middle East Spokesman Matteo Bruni issued a statement after questions arose about whether Leo prayed in the mosque or not, describing the mosque visit as a silent one to contemplate. Bruni said: "The pope experienced his visit to the mosque in silence, in a spirit of contemplation and listening, with deep respect for the place and the faith of those who gather there in prayer." Past papal visits to the mosque have always raised questions about whether the popes would pray in the Muslim house of worship or merely visit as…...

1+ day, 20+ hour ago (705+ words) Pope Leo XIV is heading to join Orthodox patriarchs in commemorating an important moment in Christian history Leo, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and other Christian leaders were meeting on the shores of Lake Iznik, the site of the Council of Nicaea that produced a creed, or statement of faith, that is still recited by millions of Christians today. Leo flew by helicopter to Iznik from Istanbul to take part in an ecumenical prayer to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Nicaea meeting, the highlight of his visit to Turkey. He arrived just after the Muslim call to prayer rang out from a nearby mosque. The Nicaea gathering happened at a time when the Eastern and Western churches were still united. They split in the Great Schism of 1054, a divide precipitated largely by disagreements over the primacy of the pope. But even…...

2+ day, 2+ hour ago (591+ words) Pope Leo XIV has received a raucous welcome from Turkey's Catholic community Shouts of "Papa Leo" and "Viva il Papa" (Long Live the pope) erupted, along with cheering and clapping, inside and outside Istanbul's Cathedral of the Holy Spirit as Leo arrived to begin his first full day in Turkey. Leo presided over a prayer with Catholic clergy and nuns before taking part in the key reason for his visit. He will commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of one of the most important moments in Christianity " the AD 325 gathering of bishops that produced the Nicaean Creed, a statement of faith that millions of Christians still recite today. The gathering happened at a time when the Eastern and Western churches were still united. They split in the Great Schism of 1054, a divide precipitated largely by disagreements over the primacy of the pope. But…...

2+ day, 8+ hour ago (195+ words) Unity, dialogue and setting aside differences are the key messages for Pope Leo, who is taking part in events alongside the spiritual leader of about 300 million Orthodox Christians in Turkey. Pope Leo delivers message of unity on 1st foreign trip Unity, dialogue and setting aside differences are the key messages for Pope Leo, who is taking part in events alongside the spiritual leader of about 300 million Orthodox Christians in Turkey. View of Mar-a-Lago where Pres. Trump spent Thanksgiving Tracking holiday air traffic over the continental US: FlightAware Tracking the cross-country storm set to impact the rest of the holiday weekend Dow Jones Industrial Average Wintry weather threatens post-Thanksgiving travel Busiest travel day expected this weekend National Guard member shot in DC attack dies Anti-corruption scandal hits Ukraine ahead of upcoming peace talks "GMA" mascot shines in Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade Black…...

3+ day, 3+ hour ago (907+ words) Pope Leo XIV's first foreign trip, to Turkey and Lebanon, will be packed with opportunities to advance relations with two of the Catholic Church's top priorities: Orthodox Christians and Muslims. It will also give history's first American pope the spotlight to speak in broader terms about peace in the Middle East in languages much of the world can understand: He'll speak exclusively in English while in Turkey, and a combination of English and French in Lebanon, in a departure from the Vatican's traditional lingua franca of Italian. Security will be tight, especially after Israel fired a strike in Beirut to target Hezbollah, just days before Leo arrives. Here's a look at some of the expected highlights of the Nov. 27-Dec. 2 visit to two countries that the late Pope Francis had intended to visit but couldn't as his health deteriorated. Both…...

3+ day, 4+ hour ago (907+ words) Pope Leo XIV's first foreign trip, to Turkey and Lebanon, will be packed with opportunities to advance relations with two of the Catholic Church's top priorities: Orthodox Christians and Muslims. It will also give history's first American pope the spotlight to speak in broader terms about peace in the Middle East in languages much of the world can understand: He'll speak exclusively in English while in Turkey, and a combination of English and French in Lebanon, in a departure from the Vatican's traditional lingua franca of Italian. Security will be tight, especially after Israel fired a strike in Beirut to target Hezbollah, just days before Leo arrives. Here's a look at some of the expected highlights of the Nov. 27-Dec. 2 visit to two countries that the late Pope Francis had intended to visit but couldn't as his health deteriorated. Both…...

4+ day, 54+ min ago (391+ words) Pope Leo suggested that Americans should focus on gratitude as they celebrate Thanksgiving this year, encouraging "all people to try and promote peace and harmony." Pope Leo encourages Americans to focus on gratitude this Thanksgiving Pope Leo suggested that Americans should focus on gratitude as they celebrate Thanksgiving this year, encouraging "all people to try and promote peace and harmony." Tracking holiday air traffic over the continental US: FlightAware Interstate 95 in Philadelphia ahead of Thanksgiving holiday Tracking severe weather potential in the South; Thanksgiving travel weather forecast for the nation Philadelphia International Airport ahead of Thanksgiving holiday View of Mar-a-Lago where Pres. Trump will spend Thanksgiving Massive fire engulfs residential apartment complex in Hong Kong Storms disrupt Thanksgiving travel plans for millions of Americans 2 storms sweep East FBI reportedly opens inquiry into Democratic lawmakers Trump details peace deal framework as…...