The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis is planning to visit Turkey “in the last days of November”, but said the length of his trip and his agenda in the country have yet to be determined.
Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, made the announcement last week noting that a formal invitation from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had arrived at the Vatican earlier the same day. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, considered first among equals among Orthodox bishops, had already invited Pope Francis to visit Istanbul on 30 November, feast of St Andrew, patron saint of Constantinople.
As things now stand, the trip will be Pope Francis’ sixth outside Italy since his election in March 2013. He will visit Albania on 21 September.