Pope Leo XIV received a warm welcome from the Turks on Thursday as he undertakes his first-ever apostolic journey.
The pontiff touched down in Istanbul on Thursday and was immediately transported to Ankara, where he visited the mausoleum of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. He then held a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“I believe the messages to be delivered from Türkiye will reach the Turkish-Islamic world and the Christian world, and will strengthen hope for peace around the globe,” Erdogan said of the pope’s visit.
Pope Leo XIV gave a speech to Turkish authorities and members of the nation’s diplomatic corps later in the day, where he assured the Muslim-majority nation that Christian minorities “desire to contribute positively to the unity of your country.”
“They are, and feel part of, Turkish identity” the pontiff emphasized.
Invoking Turkey’s deeply religious culture and history of intermingled religious populations, the pope urged politicians to abandon “the mentality of ‘might is right,’ and dare to ask that compassion and solidarity be considered as the authentic criteria for development.”
He continued: “For this reason, in a society like the one here in Türkiye, where religion plays a visible role, it is essential to honor the dignity and freedom of all God’s children, both men and women, fellow nationals and foreigners, poor and rich.”
Pope Leo will be meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the first among equals of the Orthodox Communion.
They will pray together in Iznik, the site of the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. — the first Christian conference called to authoritatively define religious doctrine.
The two Christian leaders are also expected to sign a joint declaration as a pubic display of Christian ecumenicalism.
The pontiff will also be visiting Lebanon on this trip, which is his first apostolic journey.
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Aboard the papal plane en route to Istanbul, Pope Leo XIV offered a special holiday greeting to his fellow yankees.
“To the Americans here: Happy Thanksgiving!” the pope said.
