Pope Leo XIV and Erdoğan Statement: Visit an Important Step Strengthening Our Common Ground
Pope Leo XIV, the 267th leader of the Catholic Church, arrived in Türkiye today on the occasion of the "Jubilee Year" and the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.
During the visit, which will take place between Ankara, Istanbul, and İznik until November 30, messages of unity and peace will be delivered, ranging from the meeting with Christian leaders at the Mor Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church to the mass at Volkswagen Arena.
The Pope, who was welcomed by spiritual leaders and ministers at Ankara Esenboğa Airport at 12:30, first visited Anıtkabir. He walked along the Lion Road, laid a wreath at Atatürk’s mausoleum, and observed a moment of silence.
After signing the Anıtkabir special memorial book, the Pope went to the Presidential Complex. Pope Leo XIV, who was welcomed with an official ceremony at the Complex, shook hands with President Tayyip Erdoğan, and the two held a private meeting.
Following the inter-delegation meeting, the Pope and Erdoğan addressed the guests.
President Erdoğan made the following remarks after the meeting:
"I am greatly pleased to host His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and his delegation in our country. I once again extend a warm welcome to our esteemed guest and his delegation in your presence, saying ‘Welcome to our country.’ I find it very meaningful in every respect that he is making his first foreign trip after taking office to Türkiye. I sincerely hope that this exceptional visit will contribute to the strengthening of the deep-rooted relations between Türkiye and the Vatican based on friendship, cooperation, and mutual understanding.
I wholeheartedly believe that the messages to be given from Türkiye during the visit, especially those reflected from this hall, will reach the Turkish-Islamic world and the entire Christian geography, further increasing the hopes for peace in the world. The visit of our esteemed guest coincides with a critical time in the context of regional and global events. I hope and wish that the visit, which takes place during a period when humanity's search for direction is accelerating, global uncertainties are increasing, and tensions are escalating from Asia to Africa, from Latin America to Eastern Europe, will be auspicious for all humanity. Indeed, during our productive bilateral meeting today, we shared our observations and common expectations regarding the establishment of global peace and stability. In addition to our bilateral relations, we discussed current issues concerning the shared conscience of humanity.
We drew attention to the importance of eliminating the causes that force people to migrate, as much as protecting those who are forced to migrate. I personally felt great happiness to see that we converge around an approach that advocates peace, prioritizes justice, and is based on compassion in the face of global challenges such as conflicts, humanitarian crises, poverty, injustice, and climate change.
For a thousand years, people of every race, religion, sect, and origin have lived freely in these lands, which are our homeland, without any anxiety or pressure. When you go to Istanbul, Hatay, Mardin, Diyarbakır, and many of our cities, you see churches and synagogues side by side with mosques. Hagia Irene Museum and Neve Shalom Synagogue in Istanbul, Sümela Monastery in Trabzon, Akdamar Museum in Van, and many more... These are just a few of the witnesses to our shared culture of living together. Since we took office in 2002, we have completed the restoration of nearly 100 churches, monasteries, and places of worship. I personally participated in the opening of some of them. We aim to open five more historical artifacts for worship by the end of the year. We consider cultural, religious, and ethnic differences not as a source of separation, but quite the opposite, as a source of richness. Every single one of our people, regardless of their language, religion, sect, or ethnic origin, is a first-class citizen of the Republic of Türkiye. We do not allow even a single person to be subjected to discrimination.
The visit is a very important step strengthening our common ground Justice for all, prosperity for all, peace for all, tranquility for all... These are our goals and what we want to achieve. I consider this visit to be a very important step strengthening our common ground."
Pope Leo XIV also spoke after Erdoğan. The Pope made the following statement:
"Thank you very much for your kind welcome. I am pleased to begin my papacy’s foreign travels by visiting your country. Because this country has inseparable ties with the origins of Christianity. Today, it invites the children of Abraham and all humanity to a fraternity that recognizes and appreciates differences. It is true that there have been centuries of conflict in human history, and our world is still unstable due to ambitions and choices that violate justice and peace. At the same time, when challenges arise, being a people with such a magnificent past is both a gift and a responsibility.
The image of the bridge over the strait, which was chosen as the logo for my journey, beautifully expresses the special role of your country. You hold an important place both in the present and the future of the Mediterranean and the whole world. Most importantly, you value your internal diversity. Before uniting Asia and Europe, East and West, this bridge connects Türkiye to itself. By bringing together the different regions of the country and doing so internally, it constitutes a kind of intersection of sensibilities. Indeed, a society is vibrant if it has pluralism. May Türkiye be a source of stability and rapprochement among peoples in the service of a just and lasting peace."
The Pope will fly to Istanbul from Istanbul Atatürk Airport at 19:00. Within the scope of his program tomorrow, he will have visits and contacts in Istanbul and İznik.
Source: CNN Türk
