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Pope Leo XIV on Thursday praised Türkiye’s role as a regional and global mediator, urging the country to value its internal diversity and act as a source of peace and unity across continents.
He made the comments during a joint appearance with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.
“You have an important place in both the present and future of the Mediterranean and the world, above all by valuing your internal diversity,” the pontiff said. “(Mr.) President, may Türkiye be a source of stability and rapprochement between peoples, in service of a just and lasting peace.”
The pope’s remarks came on the first day of his four-day visit to Türkiye, the first official foreign trip of his papacy.
In his speech to Turkish officials and foreign diplomats, Pope Leo underscored the importance of Türkiye’s unique position as a bridge between East and West, describing it as a “crossroads of sensibilities” enriched by cultural, spiritual and generational diversity.
“Uniformity would be an impoverishment. Indeed, a society is alive if it has a plurality,” he said. “Christians desire to contribute positively to the unity of your country. They are, and they feel, part of Turkish identity.”
He urged Türkiye to embrace its role as a global mediator, highlighting Ankara’s involvement in conflict-resolution efforts spanning the Russia–Ukraine war, the conflict in Gaza, and regional diplomacy in the Horn of Africa.
“Today more than ever, we need people who will promote dialogue and practice it with firm will and patient resolve,” Pope Leo said, warning of “a heightened level of conflict on the global level.”
He also stressed the importance of defending fundamental freedoms in societies where religion plays a visible role, adding, “It is essential to honor the dignity and freedom of every person. We are all children of God, and this has personal, social and political implications.”
For his part, President Erdogan commended the pontiff’s vocal stance on the Gaza crisis, particularly after Israel’s July airstrike on the enclave’s only Catholic church.
“We commend his astute stance on the Palestinian issue. Our debt to the Palestinian people is justice, and the foundation of this is to immediately implement the vision of a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders,” Erdogan said.
The president added that maintaining the historical status quo in Jerusalem is of “critical importance,” and he welcomed the pope’s continued advocacy for peace and diplomacy, including in the Russia–Ukraine war.
Erdogan said the pope’s visit comes at a “highly critical moment” amid escalating regional and global tensions, adding that the messages conveyed from Türkiye will reach both the Islamic and Christian worlds and help boost hopes for global peace.
Following the official welcoming ceremony, Erdogan and Pope Leo held a private, 30-minute one-on-one meeting at the Presidential Complex. The two discussed Türkiye–Vatican relations and pressing regional issues, particularly the situation in Palestine.
Their agenda also included broader diplomatic topics, including efforts to end violence in the Middle East and international initiatives for peace. The leaders were expected to address a joint press conference later at the Cihannuma Hall of Türkiye’s Presidential National Library, one of the world’s largest libraries.
Earlier in the day, the pontiff laid a wreath at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Türkiye on Thursday morning aboard a special ITA Airways flight bearing the papal emblem. The flight departed Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Fiumicino) at 7:40 a.m. local time (0640 GMT) and landed at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport at 12:23 p.m. local time (0923 GMT).
He was welcomed by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and other Turkish officials. Accompanying the pope are senior Vatican figures, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, along with more than 70 journalists covering the visit.
The pope’s Nov. 27–30 itinerary includes stops in Ankara, Istanbul, and Iznik. His visit aims to promote interfaith dialogue, strengthen Türkiye–Vatican ties, and deliver messages of peace across religious and cultural divides.
On Friday, Pope Leo is set to meet with Christian clerics at St. Esprit Cathedral in Istanbul, visit the French Poorhouse Nursing Home, and fly to Iznik—the historic city of Nicaea—for a religious service.
Saturday will include visits to the Sultanahmet Mosque and the Mor Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church, followed by a meeting with Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos.
The day will conclude with a large service at Volkswagen Arena.
On Sunday, the pope will lead a final service at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and return to the Fener Greek Patriarchate to mark the anniversary of its founding, wrapping up his first international tour as leader of the Catholic Church.
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