A typical family dinner scene in America on Thanksgiving Day in the United States, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of every November, and customarily includes a turkey as the main course…
Letter #85, 2025, Wed, Nov 26: Leo on Thanksgiving
I am advised by my colleague, Anna Artymiak — a young Polish journalist who has covered the Vatican for more than 15 years, with whom I collaborate (she is in Rome now, while I am on a trip to Kazakhstan in central Asia) — that Pope Leo yesterday spoke about the celebration of Thanksgiving tomorrow in the United States.
“I would encourage all people, especially with this beautiful feast that we have in the United States, which unites all people, people of different faiths, people who perhaps do not have the gift of faith… to say ‘thank you’ to someone, to recognize that we all have received so many gifts, first and foremost the gift of life, the gift of faith…”
So, perhaps, let each of us try to say “thank you” to someone tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day in the USA.
—RM
Four journalists at Castel Gandolfo in July, 2025, overlooking the volcanic crater lake, Lago Albano. From left to right, my son, Christopher Hart-Moynihan; the twin sisters from Poland who cover Vatican affairs, photographer Kasia Artymiak and journalist Anna Artymiak (who wrote the article below); and myself
Pope Leo: “Thanksgiving Is For Thanking Others”
By Anna Artymiak
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 — on the eve of Thanksgiving
Yesterday, upon his departure from Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo, just outside of Rome, to return to Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV stopped to answer some questions from the journalists waiting for him at the entrance.
Leo is beginning his first international trip on November 27, which will be Thursday, on a day when Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in America.
Already at 1 pm, during a briefing with Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, CNN’s Christopher Lamb had asked if Leo XIV, as an American, is going to celebrate Thanksgiving.
Bruni replied that he would check and let the journalists know.
In the evening, the Pope replied himself, saying in a very diplomatic way:
“I would encourage all people, especially with this beautiful feast that we have in the United States—which unites all people, people of different faiths, people who perhaps do not have the gift of faith—to say ‘thank you’ to someone… To recognize that we all have received so many gifts, first and foremost the gift of life, the gift of faith, the gift of unity, to encourage all people to try and promote peace and harmony and to give thanks to God for the many gifts we’ve been given.”
The Pope is going to arrive in Turkey on Thanksgiving Day, so there is a play on words between “Turkey” and “turkey,” a traditional meat eaten in the US on that day.
We will see if Leo XIV is going to have a surprise (a turkey dinner?) during his flight on the board of ITA Airways A320neo — the plane that the Pope will be using on all three flights during his first international trip (Rome-Istanbul, Istanbul-Beirut, and Beirut-Rome).
The program of the first day, Thursday, is very intense and there will be no space for a lunch. Leo XIV is going to have dinner in private at the Apostolic Delegation in Istanbul.
In Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday, the Holy Father also expressed his joy at the prospect of visiting both countries, Turkey and Lebanon.
Just this morning, Wednesday, Leo XIV said to those present in St. Peter’s Square, before imparting his blessing:
“Tomorrow I will travel to Turkey and then to Lebanon to visit the beloved peoples of those countries, rich in history and spirituality. It will also be an opportunity to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council held in Nicaea and to meet with the Catholic community, our Christian brothers and sisters, and those of other religions. I ask you to accompany me with your prayers.”
Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, wanted to visit both countries, but in his last years was too ill to make the trip.
—Anna Artymiak
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