Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the head of the Vatican City State and Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, at the Presidential Complex in the capital Ankara on Thursday.

Axar.az informs, citing Anadolu Agency, the visit marks the pontiff’s first official trip abroad since ascending to the head of the Catholic Church.

During a one-on-one meeting, President Erdogan and Pope Leo XIV are expected to discuss Turkiye–Vatican relations as well as current regional and global developments, with a particular focus on the situation in Palestine.

The meeting agenda is set to discuss Israel’s ongoing genocide in Palestine, efforts to build peace in the Middle East, and broader international issues.

Following their bilateral talks, Erdogan and Pope Leo will address a press conference at the Cihannuma Hall of the Presidential Nation’s Library.

Earlier, the pontiff paid respects at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Ankara, before being officially welcomed at the Presidential Complex.