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Pope Leo XIV opens first foreign trip in Turkey with a visit to Christianity’s early heartlands
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker meets with Pope Leo XIV
Illinois Democratic Gov. Jay Robert «JB» Pritzker met with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, a fellow native of the Land of Lincoln, at the Vatican this week. (Credit: REUTERS — No use Fox Weather/Outkick)
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Pope Leo XIV is using his very first foreign trip to make a statement that blends symbolism with geopolitical consequences. By landing in Turkey this morning for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and then into Lebanon’s ongoing economic and political freefall, the pope is stepping directly into places where Christianity once flourished.
His presence signals two messages at once: a bid to revive unity among Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant communities, and a warning to regional governments that persecution and instability will not go unnoticed. It’s an early test of how he intends to wield the soft power of the papacy.
Matthew R. Petrusek, Ph.D., senior director of the Word on Fire Institute, told Fox News Digital that the trip sends a clear signal about the priorities of the new pontiff. «Pope Leo has signaled early in his papacy that one of his primary objectives is to give hope to Christians who live in regions where they face persecution or other difficulties living out their faith. By traveling to Turkey and Lebanon, I think Leo is telling Christians both in those countries and across the globe, ‘You are not forgotten; the Church stands with you.’»
LGBTQ CATHOLICS MARCH THROUGH ST. PETER’S BASILICA IN JUBILEE RITE AS VATICAN CALENDAR ENTRY STIRS CONTROVERSY
Pope Leo XIV waves to the faithful ahead of his inauguration Mass in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, on May 18, 2025. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
Turkey: Marking 1,700 Years Since the Council of Nicaea
In Turkey, he will commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. The landmark council convened in 325 AD in the ancient city of Nicaea, now Iznik, and produced the Nicene Creed, a central statement of Christian belief shared by Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants.
On Thursday, the pope will fly by helicopter to Iznik for a prayer at the archaeological remains of the basilica where the council met.
Petrusek emphasized the symbolic weight of this moment. «Christianity is a creedal religion — it is based on shared, free assent to unchanging doctrines about Jesus Christ and the Church that give consistency and coherence to Christianity around the world. The Nicene Creed forms the backbone of Christian identity.»
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Archaeologists uncovered a Roman-era hospital in Turkey’s ancient city of Kaunos that later became a Christian sanctuary. (Durmus Genc/Anadolu via Getty Images)
To underline the anniversary, Leo issued an apostolic letter on Nov. 23 titled «In the Unity of Faith,» highlighting the Creed’s enduring role in unifying Christian communities. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops said the document stresses the relevance of Nicaea’s teachings for Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants today.
Petrusek said the pope’s approach makes a broader statement about unity. «The Creed includes the words, ‘I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.’ I believe Pope Leo is also signaling that he wants to do everything within his power, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, to heal the rifts that, sadly, still prevent Christ’s Church from being ‘one.’»
In Turkey, the pope will also meet Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, visit Christian communities in Istanbul, and celebrate liturgies.
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Archbishop Sahak II Mashalian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, blesses a worshipper during Sunday Mass at the Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Church in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, ahead of the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Turkey. (Khalil Hamra/AP Photo)
Lebanon: A Rare Papal Stop in a Country in Crisis
The second half of the journey will take the pope to Lebanon, a country that last hosted a papal visit more than a decade ago. The late Pope Francis had hoped to travel there but was unable to do so due to his declining health.
Lebanon remains home to the largest proportion of Christians in the Middle East, but the population has plummeted due to economic collapse, emigration, and political paralysis. The Associated Press reported that the pope will meet political leaders, Christian and Muslim clerics and families affected by overlapping crises. One of the most anticipated moments will come on Dec. 2, when Leo visits the Port of Beirut, the site of the 2020 explosion that killed more than 200 people and wounded more than 6,000.
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Rubble and debris remain around towering grain silos gutted in the massive August explosion at the Beirut port that claimed the lives of more than 200 people, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. One of the most anticipated moments will come on Dec. 2, when Leo visits the Port of Beirut. Hussein Malla/AP
Petrusek said papal visits have a profound emotional impact. «It is hard to overestimate the positive effect having the pope visit your country has for Catholics, especially those who are suffering because of their faith. It is a reminder that the ‘Church’ is not an abstraction but, rather, a historical reality that goes back to Jesus Christ himself.»
He added that the pope’s presence carries a message for governments in the region. «In addition to his message of hope to the faithful, his presence in these countries communicates to those responsible for persecuting Christians, ‘Your crimes are not taking place in the dark; the world is watching.’»
In Lebanon, the pope will speak in both English and French. The Vatican has released the official missal for the liturgies, and Lebanese media are preparing for large crowds despite infrastructure shortages.
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Pope Leo XIV is cheered by faithful during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo)
What to Watch For
The Vatican is expected to emphasize Christian unity, interfaith dialogue, and support for vulnerable communities. Pope Leo’s words in Turkey and Lebanon will be closely watched by regional governments and religious communities navigating conflict, insecurity, and demographic decline.
Petrusek said the trip reflects the heart of Leo’s early papacy: «A papal visit brings immense hope and a renewed patience to persevere… suffering and death, especially as a result of persecution, not only doesn’t have the final say; when freely united to Christ on the Cross, it leads to nothing less than eternal life.»
vatican,roman catholic,christianity,religion,turkey,lebanon
INTERNACIONAL
Las aerolíneas afectadas por el fallo de Airbus anunciaron cancelaciones y retrasos en vuelos programados para el fin de semana
Varias aerolíneas en distintas regiones del mundo reportaron este viernes demoras, cancelaciones y reprogramaciones a raíz de la advertencia técnica emitida por la empresa Airbus, relacionada con aeronaves de la familia A320neo.
La compañía europea identificó un “problema de software global” en estos modelos, actualmente en operación en múltiples continentes, e instruyó a los operadores a aplicar medidas preventivas inmediatamente.
En el caso de Estados Unidos, American Airlines señaló que 340 aviones de su flota se encuentran alcanzados por el anuncio y anticipó que podrían experimentarse “algunos retrasos operativos”, aunque esperan completar las revisiones y actualizaciones “entre hoy y mañana (sábado)”.
Delta Airlines sumó que cumplirá estrictamente con las directrices de seguridad definidas por Airbus y confía en que el impacto de la medida “sea limitado”. JetBlue y United Airlines también informaron sobre las afectaciones en sus servicios, justo en uno de los momentos de mayor demanda del año por la celebración del Día de Acción de Gracias, que, según la Administración Federal de Aviación de EEUU, movilizó a millones de estadounidenses.
En Europa, la húngara Wizz Air advirtió a sus pasajeros sobre posibilidades de interrupciones en vuelos programados debido a la actualización requerida por Airbus. Desde el Reino Unido, EasyJet comunicó que está “trabajando estrechamente con las autoridades de seguridad y Airbus para implementar las medidas que se deben tomar” y aclaró que informarán directamente a los clientes sobre cambios en los vuelos.
El aeropuerto londinense de Gatwick notificó que cerca de 80 vuelos experimentaron problemas a lo largo del viernes y precisaron que la causa fue el mismo inconveniente con la familia A320neo. La terminal aérea de Heathrow informó que el mantenimiento exigido para algunos aviones Airbus A320 actualmente no afecta a sus operaciones y por este motivo, remarcó la disparidad del impacto según la flota de cada aerolínea.
Tim Johnson, director de la Autoridad de Aviación Civil de Reino Unido, mencionó en detalle: “No todas las aerolíneas vuelan con Airbus A320 o los aviones afectados, para algunas aerolíneas no habrá ningún impacto en absoluto”. Johnson sugirió a los pasajeros recurrir siempre a los canales oficiales de cada aerolínea para obtener información actualizada: “Mi consejo es consultar los sitios web y las aplicaciones de las aerolíneas para obtener la información más reciente sobre lo que está sucediendo”.
Por recomendación de la Agencia Europea de Seguridad Aérea (AESA), a partir del sábado 29 de noviembre, las aeronaves A320neo consideradas en riesgo solo podrán operar con pasajeros una vez completadas las reparaciones indicadas. Hasta tanto, se permite realizar únicamente vuelos sin pasajeros hacia los puntos de mantenimiento.
En Oceanía, Air New Zealand confirmó en sus redes sociales que el “problema de software global que afecta a los aviones Airbus A320neo” llevará a interrupciones en su operativa regular. “Como medida de precaución, todos nuestros aviones A320neo recibirán una actualización de software antes de operar su próximo servicio de pasajeros”, informó la firma en la red social X y aseguró comunicación directa con los clientes afectados.
Desde Asia, la aerolínea japonesa All Nippon Airways (ANA) reportó la cancelación de más de 60 vuelos, consecuencia de los controles y actualizaciones de sus aviones A320. El proceso de revisión puede llevar hasta cuatro horas por aeronave. Según la agencia Kyodo, el número de pasajeros afectados por estas cancelaciones se acerca a los 9.500. Japan Airlines canceló 65 vuelos por problemas con el software del Airbus A320
Entre otras erolíneas que utilizan el A320neo modelo figuran Iberia y Vueling, así como Spirit Airlines, Viva Aerobus, Indigo, AirAsia y Pegasus Airlines.
Airbus identificó el problema tras analizar un incidente reciente en el que la intensa radiación solar alteró datos esenciales para el funcionamiento de los controles de vuelo de una unidad de la familia A320. El fabricante europeo determinó que “un número significativo” de aviones podría estar expuesto y emitió una alerta mundial a los operadores, requiriendo la aplicación inmediata de soluciones de software y hardware para resguardar la seguridad.
La compañía expresó ser consciente de la magnitud de los trastornos para los pasajeros y ofreció disculpas, aunque recalcó: “La seguridad como prioridad número uno y absoluta”. Airbus aseguró que continuará colaborando con clientes y autoridades para minimizar el impacto y garantizar la protección de la flota.
(Con información de Europa Press)
INTERNACIONAL
Abbey Gate Gold Star father blisters Biden after Afghan national allegedly ambushes 2 National Guardsmen in DC
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EXCLUSIVE — The father of Staff Sgt. Darin «Taylor» Hoover — one of the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Abbey Gate bombing during the chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan — is blasting the former Biden administration after an Afghan national allegedly shot two National Guardsmen just blocks from the White House.
Hoover gave Fox News Digital a new, forceful statement on Wednesday’s shooting, saying the incident was the direct result of the administration’s failed vetting of Afghan evacuees.
«This is on the feckless Biden administration,» Hoover said of the shooting. «We had no idea who was getting into this country because the Biden administration, especially the State Department run by Antony Blinken, didn’t do the work that was needed to vet all these people. There were so many people put on the planes that got out initially, that we have no idea who they were.»
He continued: «By doing this, all we got is men of fighting age that are most likely terrorists that are here in the homeland to do us all harm and take our beloved United States of America. Maybe if the Biden administration started the process earlier than the truncated timetable that they did, this could have all come out so much better, including all of our most precious men and women of our military coming home.»
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Former President Joe Biden is under fire from Gold Star families like the Hoovers after an Afghan national allegedly ambushed and shot two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. (Darin Hoover, Getty Images)
The FBI is leading the investigation into the shooting, and multiple intelligence sources tell Fox News Digital the attack is being treated as a possible act of international terrorism. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was taken into custody after allegedly ambushing the two West Virginia National Guardsmen near the White House.
Fox News Digital previously reported that Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, immediately following the fall of Kabul, and that he had worked with several U.S. government entities, including the CIA, as part of a partner force in Kandahar.
«The individual — and so many others — should have never been allowed to come here,» former CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Fox News Digital. «Our citizens and service members deserve far better than to endure the ongoing fallout from the Biden administration’s catastrophic failures.»
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Aug 29, 2023: Darin Hoover and Kelly Barnett, parents of Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Taylor Hoover, speak to a House committee. (Fox News)
Hoover says the shooting confirms what he and other Gold Star parents feared when thousands of Afghans were evacuated during the final days of the withdrawal — that many individuals were allowed into the United States without adequate screening.
«We had no idea who Biden put on those planes,» Hoover said. «None.»
Wednesday’s comments come after years of public criticism from Hoover, who has been one of the most vocal parents demanding accountability for the Abbey Gate attack that killed 13 American service members, including his son Taylor, an 11-year Marine veteran who was engaged to be married and on his third deployment to Afghanistan.
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Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover was killed in action in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021. He is a Purple Heart recipient. (Darin Hoover)
Hoover’s earlier remarks made headlines in 2024, when he reacted to President Biden falsely claiming during a presidential debate that no U.S. service members had died under his watch. At the time, Hoover told Fox News Digital that he felt «rage» hearing Biden deny the deaths of the Abbey Gate 13.
«The rage, the absolute disgust that I got from hearing him say that — I started yelling back at the TV,» he said in 2024. «He’s never acknowledged, not one time, any of our kids. He’s never said their names.»
He also revealed then that the Biden administration sent the Abbey Gate families a batch of identical condolence letters a year after the attack.
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«All 13 families got a canned letter,» he said in a 2024 Fox News Digital interview. «It looked like it was a photocopy. We’ve had absolutely nothing before, nothing since.»
Hoover’s frustration at being unable to secure a meeting with Biden was also part of that earlier reporting.
«[Biden] doesn’t want to deal with us,» Hoover said in 2024. «He knows that we’re in his face, but he doesn’t want to deal with us.»
But Hoover told Fox News Digital this week that Wednesday’s shooting, allegedly carried out by an Afghan national allowed into the country during the withdrawal, is a devastating new chapter. To him, it demonstrates that the consequences of the troubled evacuation are still unfolding on American soil.
Federal officials say the investigation into the shooting remains active. Hoover says he will continue speaking out until the families of the Abbey Gate fallen receive answers — and until the former administration takes responsibility for what he believes are ongoing failures.
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«This isn’t going away,» he said at the time. «We’re not going away.»
Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
military families,counter terrorism,afghanistan,terrorism,military
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