Pope Leo XIV has embarked on his inaugural foreign journey, a diplomatically sensitive trip to Turkey and Lebanon, just six months after his election. The pilgrimage, centered on the theme of building bridges and promoting dialogue, unfolds against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions, including recent Israeli airstrikes on Beirut. The visit is seen as a critical first test of the new Pontiff’s diplomatic finesse on the global stage. The itinerary is rich with historical and contemporary significance. In Turkey, the Pope will visit Iznik, the ancient city of Nicaea, to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. This landmark event, which formalized core Christian doctrine in the Nicene Creed, serves as a powerful symbol for the Pontiff’s stated goal of healing the centuries-old rift between Eastern and Western Christianity. His schedule also includes a visit to Istanbul's Blue Mosque, following the precedent of his predecessors in a gesture of inter-religious solidarity. The Lebanon leg of the journey carries immediate political weight, proceeding despite the recent escalation of violence. There, Pope Leo will celebrate Mass at the Beirut waterfront, the site of the devastating 2020 port explosion that killed over 200 and injured 7,000. This act is intended as a poignant gesture of solidarity with a nation in perpetual crisis and its Christian community, which now constitutes an estimated third of the population. Throughout his travels, the Pope has articulated a grave vision of the current global climate. He has warned against succumbing to a "heightened level of conflict," describing today's myriad wars as a "third world war fought piecemeal." He starkly declared that "the future of humanity is at stake," echoing a phrase famously used by his predecessor, Pope Francis, whose original plans for this trip Pope Leo has now embraced. Vatican observers are scrutinizing the new Pontiff’s approach closely. Described as extremely measured and cautious, Pope Leo has managed to cultivate a unique position, with both progressive and traditionalist factions within the Church believing he aligns with their views. While he has addressed issues like migrant dignity, he has thus far been less overtly political than Pope Francis. This pilgrimage, weaving through ancient schisms and modern conflicts, will ultimately reveal the diplomatic style and substantive priorities of Catholicism’s new leader.