VATICAN CITY — The Vatican on Monday officially confirmed Pope Benedict XVI's trip next month to Turkey, a visit that has been overshadowed by his remarks on Islam and violence.

The pontiff will travel to Ankara, Istanbul, Ephesus and Izmir during his first visit to a predominantly Muslim country, the Vatican said, outlining for the first time the itinerary of the Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 visit.

Other details will be announced later, the Vatican said, but the pilgrimage will begin in Ankara, the Turkish capital, and then take the pontiff to Izmir, a port city near Ephesus, which is an ancient Christian community, and finally to Istanbul, seat of the headquarters of the spiritual leader of the world's 200 million Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.

Benedict will spend an entire day, Nov. 30, in Istanbul. The date is special to Orthodox faithful because it is the feast day of St. Andrew, who traveled across Asia Minor and is considered the father of the patriarchate of Constantinople, the Byzantine name for present-day Istanbul.

Turkey had extended an official invitation to the 79-year-old pontiff, and Benedict's choice of the Turkish capital as the first stop reflects this. Turkey, while predominantly Muslim, is officially secular.

The pontiff has said his meeting with Bartholomew is a priority of the pilgrimage. The Vatican has been working to overcome tensions with the Orthodox, especially in Russia and Ukraine, with an eye on a possible papal visit to Moscow that eluded Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II.

The Turkish visit was confirmed four days ahead of the Vatican's scheduled presentation of its annual message to mark the end of Ramadan, the Islamic world's month of fasting.

Benedict sparked protests across the Muslim world when he quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor's criticism of Islam during a Sept. 12 speech in Germany. He has since expressed regrets that offense was taken, and reiterated his esteem for Islam.

Benedict also met with ambassadors from predominantly Muslim countries in a bid to defuse the anger.