Vatican Conference Showcases Türkiye’s Sacred Sites as New Faith Tourism Destination, Here’s All You Need to Know

Published on December 12, 2025

In December of 2025, Turkey’s most prominent pilgrimage sites were presented at an event aimed at fostering faith tourism as well as cultural exchange at the Lateran Universities of the Vatican. Although the focus of the event was Turkey’s spiritual and historical places of interest, fresh pilgrimage tours for 2026 were presented to international participants. The event is an example of the growing collaboration for tourism and cultural exchange between Turkey and the religious institutions of the Vatican.

A Prominent Venue for Faith Tourism Promotion

The Pontifical Lateran University, often referred to as the “Pope’s university” due to its close ties to the Vatican, set the stage for the conference, which was organized in collaboration with L’Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, a Vatican-affiliated organization responsible for arranging pilgrimage tours. The event also saw the active participation of the Culture and Promotion Councillorship of the Turkish Embassy in Rome. Attended by religious figures, diplomats, tourism professionals, and key guests, the conference underscored Türkiye’s crucial role in global faith tourism.

For those unfamiliar, Türkiye has long been a destination for pilgrims of various faiths, including Christianity, Islam, and other religions. Its diverse religious and historical sites attract thousands of tourists each year who come for both spiritual enrichment and cultural exploration. The conference’s emphasis on Türkiye’s faith tourism routes serves to solidify its place as a key player in the sector, with a focus on deepening engagement between the Vatican and Türkiye.

Türkiye’s Rich Heritage and Geopolitical Importance Highlighted

Opening the program, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Pope’s General Vicar, spoke passionately about his personal experiences in Türkiye and the country’s significant natural and cultural wealth. He stressed the importance of Türkiye’s strategic geopolitical position, noting that his visits to the country, as well as those of Pope Leo XIV, allowed him to witness first-hand the richness and warmth of Turkish hospitality.

Reina reflected on the powerful potential of cooperation between the Vatican and Türkiye, particularly in the realm of peacebuilding and cultural exchange. “In such a sensitive and special context, being able to give a sign of peace together with Türkiye would truly be something very beautiful,” he said. His words highlighted Türkiye’s growing reputation not just as a tourist destination, but as a symbol of peace and cooperation between different cultures and religions.

This sentiment was echoed by Zeynep Selvi, Türkiye’s Culture and Promotion Counsellor in Rome, who underlined the success of Pope Leo XIV’s first foreign visit to Türkiye in November 2025. She noted that both the papal visit and the Vatican conference affirmed Türkiye’s image as a welcoming, hospitable country that values cultural exchange and dialogue.

The Role of Türkiye’s Faith Tourism in Shaping Global Travel Trends

The conference’s focus on Türkiye’s faith tourism routes comes at a time when religious travel is becoming increasingly important in the global tourism industry. Pilgrimages are no longer confined to religious individuals; they have expanded to include tourists looking for cultural experiences, historical exploration, and opportunities for personal reflection.

Türkiye’s diverse offerings cater to a wide range of religious tourists. From the ancient city of Ephesus, home to the well-preserved ruins of an ancient Roman city and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, to the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, where many believe the Virgin Mary spent her final years, Türkiye boasts an impressive array of sacred sites.

Other popular pilgrimage destinations include the fairy-tale landscapes of Cappadocia, renowned for its ancient cave churches and monasteries, and Pamukkale, known for its hot springs and mineral-rich terraces that attract visitors for both their beauty and healing properties. The archaeological city of Iznik, famous for its Roman mosaics, and the historically significant region of Antakya, home to early Christian communities, further enhance Türkiye’s appeal as a faith tourism hotspot.

The upcoming pilgrimage tours planned for 2026 will expand these offerings to include even more locations in Türkiye’s Black Sea and southeastern regions. This expansion is expected to provide travelers with deeper, more immersive experiences into the spiritual and historical fabric of the country.

New Pilgrimage Routes for 2026: What to Expect

The conference featured a presentation by Carmen Salvemini, a tour coordinator from L’Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, who provided detailed insights into the planned pilgrimage routes in Türkiye. These new tours are expected to attract an even broader audience, from religious pilgrims to curious tourists looking to connect with Türkiye’s deep cultural heritage.

Among the locations highlighted were the House of the Virgin Mary, the ancient city of Ephesus, and several key sites across Cappadocia and Pamukkale. Additionally, the southeastern cities of Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa are being integrated into the new pilgrimage programs. These regions are rich in history and boast a multitude of sacred sites, making them ideal additions to the growing faith tourism routes.

The role of technology in facilitating these tours was also underscored, with the inclusion of media presentations and footage shot by Italian journalist Cristoforo Gorno. These visual materials, produced for Italy’s public broadcaster RAI, provided participants with an evocative preview of Türkiye’s faith tourism offerings.

Vatican-Türkiye Cooperation Paves the Way for Future Travel Growth

The event at the Vatican is the beginning of a new phase in the relationship between Türkiye and the Vatican-related institutions. Both sides intend to continue strengthening the relations through the cultural dialogue of tourism. Türkiye’s confidence in inviting tourism to its and the Vatican’s faith tourism resources tourism assets will surely benefit both parties.

Tourists will have the chance to meaningfulfully interact with Türkiye’s cultural and spiritual sites for personal reflection, historical interest, or religious reasons. These pilgrimages allow access to the unique landscapes of Türkiye, interlaced with its history and the sacred.

With the pandemic and tourism recovering, Türkiye is in the best position to be the main target for the new faith-based tourism pilgrims. The upcoming new pilgrimage routes, the collaboration with the Vatican will surely take Türkiye to the next levels in the faith tourism. The upcoming years will surely bring a lot of faith tourism demand.

The 2026 pilgrimage tours will further boost Türkiye’s reputation as one of the most exciting countries to visit for spiritual seekers and for the curious as well. A new stage of cultural engagement of the world will surely follow the new tourist engagement.