Pope Leo's First Big Test: Can He Make a Mark in the Middle East?

Pope Leo XIV is off to the Middle East for his first big trip as pope. Unlike his predecessor, who made waves early on, Leo is more reserved. But this trip might just show what he's really made of. First stop: Turkey. He'll meet with President Erdogan, who's been accused of not playing fair with democracy. Leo's got a tough job there—trying to mend a 1, 000-year-old feud between Catholics and Orthodox Christians. Not an easy task! Then it's on to Lebanon. The pope will try to boost the spirits of the largest group of Catholics in the Middle East. But Lebanon's got big problems—money troubles, people leaving, and nearby airstrikes. Leo's got his work cut out for him. Some experts think this trip could be a big moment for Leo. It's a chance for him to share his big ideas about the world and the church's role in it. So far, he's been pretty careful with his words. But maybe this trip will show us more of what he's thinking. Leo's not like his predecessor in every way. He's more of a diplomat, which might help him in the long run. He's big on social justice and helping those who need it most. But can he make a real difference on this trip? That's the big question.