The primary-ever American pope’s first journey overseas began off with a distinctly American second, when Pope Leo XIV was gifted a baseball bat previously owned by Chicago White Sox legend Nellie Fox.
CBS Information correspondent Chris Livesay was among the many 81 journalists on the papal flight to Turkey who have been greeted by the pope throughout an unannounced stroll via the cabin to greet the Vatican press corps.
Many on board continued the long-standing custom of presenting items to the pontiff as a courtesy, however Livesay had a very private present for the Chicago native: a Louisville Slugger baseball bat that after belonged to Corridor of Fame second baseman Nellie Fox — a Chicago White Sox legend whose profession coincided with Leo’s childhood.
CBS Information
When the correspondent identified the initials and quantity on the top of the bat, which is a household heirloom given to Livesay by his cousin Jim Hayes (not Cardinals announcer Jim Hayes), the pope’s eyes lit up.
“How did you get this via safety?” joked the pope — a giant fan of the White Sox — prompting laughter from the encircling journalists earlier than he thanked Livesay for the present.
Different American journalists marked the Thanksgiving journey by providing Leo pumpkin and pecan pies.
“To the People: Completely happy Thanksgiving!” he stated initially of the flight, earlier than emphasizing the significance of truthful journalism and noting that his go to to Turkey and Lebanon was rooted in “unity” and selling peace throughout non secular divides.
As soon as the pope arrived in Ankara, the tone shifted to diplomacy and ceremony.
After an official welcome at Esenboga Worldwide Airport, the Leo traveled 27 miles to the Ataturk Mausoleum, the place he took half in a wreath-laying ceremony and signed the E-book of Honor contained in the Misak-ı Millî Tower, adopted by a quick museum go to devoted to the late founding father of the Turkish Republic.
The Ankara leg of Pope Leo’s go to was to be temporary. By Thursday night, he is set to depart for Istanbul, the place the non secular coronary heart of the papal go to will unfold over the approaching days, together with occasions tied to the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a pivotal gathering of bishops, summoned by then-Roman Emperor Constantine I in 325 A.D., which, amongst different issues, set the date for Easter to be marked.
From there, Leo will proceed to Lebanon, a rustic dealing with deep political and financial turmoil.
On Sunday, a prime Hezbollah commander was killed within the capital Beirut, in a focused strike by Israel only a week earlier than the pope’s go to to town, underscoring safety issues on the bottom.
Leo is predicted to give attention to solidarity with Christian communities in Lebanon and to bolster requires peace and coexistence throughout non secular traces throughout his go to.
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