Pope Leo confirms visits to Turkey and Lebanon to strengthen Catholic–Orthodox ties
● Pope Leo’s Turkey and Lebanon trips ● Armenian Archbishop jailed ● Ukrainian Orthodox leader visits Athos
Welcome to Divine Dispatch, your expertly curated weekly briefing on church geopolitics.
Pope Leo has confirmed his first international trips to Turkey and Lebanon, marking a significant moment for Catholic-Orthodox relations, while Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhyan of the Armenian Apostolic Church has been sentenced to two years in prison amid political controversy.
The other big story is Metropolitan Epifaniy’s visit to Mount Athos which highlights the ongoing struggle for the recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Also, Nordic bishops issue urgent calls for the protection of Ukrainian children.
Pope Leo’s confirms visits to Turkey and Lebanon
Armenian archbishop sentenced to two years in prison
Ukrainian Orthodox leader visits Mount Athos
Pope’s message to Croatian pilgrims in Rome
New Sinai archbishop receives warm welcome ahead of enthronement
Nordic Bishops: Ukrainian children must not be used in war
Balkan Orthodox representatives stay close to Patriarch Kirill
Stories that caught my attention:
📌 Let’s begin 3,2,1
1. 🇻🇦🇹🇷🇱🇧 Pope Leo’s confirms visits to Turkey and Lebanon
Pope Leo has confirmed his first papal visits to Turkey (the Ecumenical Patriarchate) and Lebanon scheduled for next month (30 November). As expected, though not confirmed until the last moment, the Pope will travel to Turkey for the commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, held in what is today İznik. After Turkey, the Pope will visit Lebanon.
This will be his first international trip, carrying strong symbolic significance. Reports are slowly emerging from the Greek Orthodox side about the details of the trip. The Pope will first meet the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then travel to the Phanar, being the seat of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, for the feast of St Andrew, the patron of Constantinople.
Afterwards, both are expected to travel together to İznik (northwestern Turkey).
Interesting details are emerging from Istanbul, including reports that Bartholomew has asked US Greek Orthodox parishes for financial support for the November visit.
Pope Leo’s trip to Lebanon is also highly symbolic, given the country’s large Christian population, the highest in the Middle East. Lebanon remains in political instability, with its political developments heavily shaped by wider regional dynamics involving Syria, Israel, and Iran.
2. 🇦🇲 Armenian Archbishop sentenced to two years in prison
Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhyan of the Armenian Apostolic Church has been sentenced to two years in prison for publicly calling for the overthrow of the government. He maintains his innocence and considers the case politically motivated. At the end of September, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan again called for the resignation of Catholicos Karekin II, accusing him of lacking faith and urging the Armenian Apostolic Church to align itself with the government.
I wrote about this earlier in the year: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2025/4-july/news/world/flare-up-between-church-and-state-in-armenia-intensifies
Separately, at the end of September, the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in Jerusalem issued a statement condemning a new court hearing on their arnona (property tax) dispute, a case with wider administrative implications for other churches in Jerusalem. The Patriarchate urged that the issue be resolved not through “unilateral legal enforcement”, but via the established channels of communication between the Israeli government and the churches. On 26 September, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem issued a statement expressing their support for the Armenian Patriarchate.
3. 🇺🇦🇬🇷 Ukrainian Orthodox leader visits Mount Athos
Metropolitan Epifaniy, the leader of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, led a delegation to Mount Athos in Greece, which is a major centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism, at the end of last week.
Before his visit, I understand there was some uneasiness among certain monastic communities (close to the Russian church) that do not recognise the Orthodox Church of Ukraine or his leadership. The visit went ahead, and Epifaniy delivered several sharp statements in relation to Russia, drawing heavily on biblical language.
“The powerful of this world have risen against our nation, our homeland Ukraine, and our Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Epifaniy said. “These modern followers of the godless King Ahab want to destroy us just as the wicked king sought to destroy the Prophet Elias. But we are inspired by the example of this prophet, for like him, we know that truth is on our side.”
He added that King Ahab despised Jerusalem and the temple of God. “Similarly, today the new Ahabs from the northern lands despise the canonical order established by the Fathers and the Ecumenical Councils. They reject the primacy of service held by the Ecumenical Patriarch and refuse to remain in ecclesial unity with their Mother, the Great Church of Christ in Constantinople.”
References to the autocephaly-granting were made by Epifaniy himself, who stated that seven years ago, on the same date, the “prophetic, wise decisions of our Mother Church, paved the way for the Unification Council in St. Sophia and for the receipt of the Tomos on the Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine”.
His trip to Athos is very important in building international legitimacy for his church, which is still unrecognised by most of the Orthodox churches, as Athos also serves as a litmus test of recognition. The Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil in July stated that communities on Athos are now rejecting the OCU because of the instigation of religious violence it supports in Ukraine.
4. 🇻🇦🇭🇷 Pope’s message to Croatian pilgrims in Rome
Around 10,000 pilgrims from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and from around the world were present at St Peter’s Square (7 October). The Pope welcomed the crowds, saying it was a testament to the vitality of faith in Croatia. He urged them to keep their faith and share it across generations because “In this way, you will continue to be a leaven of peace, goodness, and hope in a world torn by violence and wars — something you, too, know from your own history,” the Pope said.
This year’s pilgrimage carries special significance as part of the Jubilee Year. The pilgrims have been in Rome for several days.
5. 🇪🇬 New Sinai archbishop receives warm welcome ahead of enthronement
The newly elected Archbishop of Sinai and abbot of St Catherine’s Monastery, Archbishop Symeon, has received a warm welcome from key religious leaders in the region. He visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate on 9 October, and his enthronement is scheduled for this Sunday (19 October) in the presence of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III.
The Greek foreign minister George Gerapetritis will also attend. At the beginning of August, Archbishop Symeon also met with the Egyptian Ambassador in Athens Omar Amer Youssef.
6. 🇺🇦 Nordic Bishops: Ukrainian children must not be used in war
Lutheran and Orthodox church leaders from Nordic countries visited Ukraine and condemned the forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. They called for an immediate stop to these actions, citing international law violations and potential crimes against humanity.
The bishops expressed concern for the long-term impact of the war on Ukrainian children and emphasised the need for continued support for humanitarian efforts. They urged Patriarch Kirill “to recognise that forcible transfer of children violates international humanitarian law.”
“Children are not instruments of war or political ideology but bearers of the divine image, deserving protection and preservation of their identity, family bonds, and cultural heritage,” the statement said.
7. 🇲🇰 Balkan Orthodox representatives stay close to Patriarch Kirill
High-ranking bishop of the Ohrid Archdiocese travelled to Moscow (8 October) to participate in the Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity, St. Sergius Lavra, presided over by Patriarch Kirill.
The delegation was headed by Metropolitan Petar of Prespa-Pelagonia, Bishop Nicholas of Velicki and the head of the Publications Department of the Skopje Diocese.
According to the Moscow Patriarchate reports, following the liturgy, a meeting took place between Patriarch Kirill and representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, including Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, and Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk - DECR Deputy Chairman.
The trip was not announced in North Macedonia, contrary to previous media practices, and the media reported it was done “incognito”. The Russian Orthodox Church recognised OA’s autocephaly in 2022.
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Andreja
