LONDON: Pope Leo XIV’s first-ever foreign visit since becoming pontiff has been marked by messages of hope — and memes.
Leo, who succeeded Pope Francis in May, becoming the first American to be elected to the highest role in Catholic Christianity, arrived in Turkiye on Thursday, before making his way to Lebanon on Sunday.
Shouts of “Papa Leo” and “Viva il Papa” (“Long live the pope”) erupted along with cheering and clapping, inside and outside Istanbul’s Cathedral of the Holy Spirit as Leo arrived to begin his first full day in Turkiye on Friday.
But on social media, the reaction was less about theology and more about “aura.”
In the clip, Leo confidently walks past the soldiers, accompanied by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and belts out a crisp, booming, “Merhaba Asker!” (“Greetings, soldiers!”) in Turkish.
Gen Z users immediately labeled the moment as “aura farming,” internet slang for someone who exudes effortless power or charisma.
You can’t convince me this wasn’t on purpose. https://t.co/AjfOy25Zuv
— ant (@senorfern) November 27, 2025
“You can’t convince me this wasn’t on purpose,” said one user on X, pointing out how visibly happy he seemed to be to pull it off.
“His lil turn. He’s so cool,” said another user on Instagram.
Another account joked about how the pope must have prepared for the moment by taking Turkish language lessons: “When your Duolingo Turkish finally pays off.”
Beyond the viral clips, the visit carried deep spiritual weight. Leo is also honoring the promises made by his predecessor, Francis, to visit both countries.
Francis had planned to visit Lebanon in 2022 and Turkiye at some point in 2025 to commemorate an important church anniversary, but both trips were postponed for health reasons.
On Friday, Leo also visited Iznik (ancient Nicaea) to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a move celebrated by Orthodox and Catholic communities alike as a historic step toward healing ancient rifts.
Paying tribute to the historical event, people called Leo’s meeting with the local Christian community, which numbers about 25,000 in a country of over 80 million people, the majority Sunni Muslim, a “moment of unity, simplicity, and deep peace. Truly unforgettable to witness this in my own city.”
Pope Leo XIV visited the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul and met with the local community.
A moment of unity, simplicity, and deep peace.
Truly unforgettable to witness this in my own city.#PopeLeoXIV #PopeinTurkey #church #catholic #Christianity #Jesus pic.twitter.com/WjsEdq6dJn
— Ozge (@ozgeerdemirx) November 28, 2025
The first American pope is embarking on his first trip during the US Thanksgiving holiday, a time when gratitude, togetherness and peace come to the fore.
Before his flight took off from Rome on Thursday, Leo wished a Happy Thanksgiving to American journalists aboard the papal plane bound for Ankara.
“To the Americans: Happy Thanksgiving!” he said, joking that he would miss the turkey but hoped for some pumpkin pie. He got his wish: Journalists on board presented him with two homemade pies, which he promised to share with his staff.
During the occasion, CBS News correspondent Chris Livesay, who is traveling with Leo in Turkiye, surprised the pontiff with a baseball bat formerly owned by Nellie Fox, legendary player for the Chicago White Sox, the team of the city where the pope grew up.
“He asked me how the heck I managed to get that thing through security,” Livesay said during his broadcast for CBS, noting the pontiff was visibly amused and “very grateful” at the sight of the Louisville Slugger.
En route to Turkey, Pope Leo was gifted a bat once owned by Chicago White Sox legend Nellie Fox.
CBS News foreign correspondent @SayChrisLive gave him the bat - a family heirloom - during the flight after some relatives encouraged him to give it to the pontiff, who is an avid… pic.twitter.com/jjOkpzAQye
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 27, 2025
The unique blend of American approachability and ancient tradition has sent interest in the new pope skyrocketing.
Data from Google Trends suggests Leo is on track to become a contender for “Most Googled Person of the Year” for 2025, surpassing political figures and pop stars. Betting markets and search analysts have noted a massive spike in global curiosity since his election in May, with this Middle East tour serving as his first major introduction to the non-Western world.
As he prepares to depart for Lebanon on Sunday, where he will meet with leaders in a country facing deep economic and political crises, the world is watching closely.
