Vatican journalists went all out in welcoming Pope Leo aboard for his first apostolic flight as he departed early this morning for Turkey. (The second stage of his trip will bring him to Lebanon.) The 80-some journalists on board were eager to greet him and share stories and gifts, and since it's Thanksgiving, that had to include pumpkin pie!
“Good-morning to the Americans here, Happy Thanksgiving!” said Pope Leo XIV to start off the customary mini press conference.
On Tuesday, as he left from his day of rest at Castel Gandolfo, he spoke of this American holiday as a celebration that unites.
Pie wasn't the only creative gift the Pope received.
Mexican journalist Valentinza Alarzraki, on her 163rd papal trip, after starting off her career with the 1979 John Paul II trip to her homeland, welcomed the Pope with a Byzantine-style icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe: “for a Pope from North America but with a Latin American heart.”
Spanish journalist Eva Fernández gave the Pope a letter written by Ignacio Gonzálvez, a 15-year-old who participated in the Jubilee of Youth in August but was hospitalized at Bambino Gesù with an aggressive lymphoma. The Pope had asked the young people to pray for him and later visited him in the hospital.
Fernández also gave the Holy Father the coat of arms of the family on his mother's side from a site in Spain, saying that it was a sign he has to visit the area (and the nation) soon. The Pope said dates were being confirmed but that Spain could have "more than hope" for a visit.
He also spoke of hopes to visit Algeria, land of Augustine of Hippo, which would be a first for a pope.
Continuing with the American and the baseball theme, the Pope also received a bat that belonged to Nellie Fox -- "How did you get this through security?!" -- and White Sox bedroom slippers, which, perhaps unfortunately, are the color black.
Not just fun and games
The flight was about more than pie and presents though.
“In Turkey and Lebanon, we wish to announce, convey, and proclaim how important peace is for the world,” the Pope said, speaking in English and thanking the journalists for their presence and their work.
The new Pope invited everyone to seek together “unity” and “harmony,” to discover one another as “brothers and sisters,” despite differences in religion or belief.
The theme of interreligious dialogue will be particularly important during this trip. In Turkey, the Pope is scheduled to visit the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and meet with Muslim leaders. He is also expected to hold a private meeting with the head of the Turkish rabbinate.
But Christian unity is the overarching theme of the Turkey stage of the journey.
The Pope made no secret of his joy at coming to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. "I have long awaited this trip because of what it means for Christians," he declared.
Tomorrow, the 70-year-old pontiff will travel to Iznik to pray with other Christian leaders before the ruins of an ancient basilica marking the site of the first ecumenical council. This is the "true meaning of unity," the Pope, whose motto emphasizes unity, said.
