Pope Leo XIV begins his first international trip in Türkiye
Historic visit with messages of interreligious dialogue and peace in the Middle East
Arrival and agenda in Türkiye
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Ankara, Turkey, on Thursday to begin his first international trip as pontiff, a four-day journey that will continue with a second leg in Lebanon. The papal plane landed at 12:20 p.m. local time, where the Catholic leader met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and addressed the diplomatic corps before departing for Istanbul in the afternoon.
Speaking to the journalists who accompanied him, Leo XIV said:
“I was looking forward to this trip with great enthusiasm because of what it means for Christians, although it is also a beautiful message for the whole world.”
This trip coincides with a complex international context, marked by negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and a tense situation in the Middle East. In a gesture to reach a wider audience, the Pope will deliver his speeches in English, his native language, instead of Italian, the language he usually uses in his addresses.
Dialogue with Islam and the situation of Christians in Türkiye
In his first address, Leo XIV will address dialogue with Islam in a country where Christians represent barely 0.1% of a predominantly Sunni Muslim population of 86 million. The Pope will have to act with sensitivity to the exclusion faced by Christian minorities in Turkey.
The Vatican considers Ankara a key interlocutor for regional peace, despite the rise of religious nationalism and the politicization of religious symbols, such as the Hagia Sophia basilica, which was converted into a mosque in 2020. The pontiff is also expected to address the conflicts and crises affecting the region, recalling his call in October for “a just and lasting peace” in the Gaza Strip, devastated by the conflict with the Islamist movement Hamas.
The visit reflects a continuity with the pontificate of Francis, especially in recognizing Turkey’s role as a country hosting more than 2.5 million refugees, primarily Syrians. Leo XIV also criticized what he called the “extremely disrespectful” treatment of migrants by the US administration of Donald Trump, reaffirming his commitment to the human rights and dignity of displaced persons.
Ceremonial and religious activities
In the afternoon, the Pope visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey and symbol of the secular republic, located on Anittepe Hill in Ankara. This initial day was primarily political in nature.
The following day, the agenda will take on a more religious tone with a visit to Iznik, ancient Nicaea, where the 1700th anniversary of the first ecumenical council of 325, considered a foundational event for Christianity, will be commemorated. Leo XIV will participate in an ecumenical prayer service alongside the Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, a key figure in the Vatican’s relations with the Orthodox Church.
The Pope emphasized the importance of this meeting:
“Bartholomew and I have already met on several occasions, I believe this will be an exceptional opportunity to promote unity among all Christians.”
This gesture seeks to build bridges in a Christian world divided since the schism of 1054, which separated Catholics and Orthodox Christians. The war in Ukraine has deepened the rift between the Patriarchates of Moscow and Constantinople, making ecumenical dialogue even more crucial.
Next stop: Lebanon
From Sunday to Tuesday, Leo XIV will continue his tour in Lebanon, a country facing a deep political and economic crisis since 2019, and which has been bombed in recent days by Israel, despite a ceasefire in place. The papal visit seeks to support reconciliation and hope in a region marked by violence and uncertainty.
Summary
Pope Leo XIV began his first international trip to Turkey with a strong message of interreligious dialogue and peace, in a delicate geopolitical context. His agenda combines political meetings and religious events, with an emphasis on promoting Christian unity and acknowledging the plight of refugees. The tour will continue in Lebanon, where the pontiff will seek to foster stability in a turbulent region.
For more information on the political and religious situation in Turkey, visit the official website of the Government of Mexico and consult UNESCO resources on intercultural and interfaith dialogue. Additionally, an analysis of the humanitarian challenges in the region is available on the World Health Organization website .
Image Source: https://www.excelsior.com.mx/global/papa-leon-xiv-viaje-turquia-libano-dialogo-islam/1754170
