Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said on Tuesday that Pope Francis was scheduled to touch down on Turkish soil at 1 p.m. (10.00 GMT) on November 28, in Ankara.

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said on Tuesday that Pope Francis was scheduled to touch down on Turkish soil at 1 p.m. (10.00 GMT) on November 28, in Ankara, and leave at 4.45 p.m. (13:45 GMT) on November 30 from Istanbul.

"Accepting the invitation of the president of the (Turkish) Republic, of His Holiness Bartholomew and the president of the (Turkish) Bishops’ Conference, Pope Francis will make an apostolic visit to Turkey from November 28 to 30, travelling to Ankara and to Istanbul," Lombardi, said in a statement.

During the first day of his visit, Pope is expected to visit the Ataturk's Mausoleum, meet Turkish President Recep Tayyeb Erdogan, have an audience with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and visit the President of Religious Affairs Mehmet Gormez.

He will fly on November 29 from Ankara to Istanbul where he is scheduled to visit the Hagia Sofia Museum and Sultan Ahmet (Blue) Mosque.

Pope Francis is set to become the fourth Pope to visit Turkey after the Vatican published details of a three-day visit to Ankara and Istanbul.