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Pope Leo XIV said Sunday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's relationships with leaders in Ukraine, Russia, and the United States position him uniquely to facilitate dialogue and potentially broker a ceasefire in the ongoing war.
Speaking to journalists aboard a flight to Lebanon, the pontiff highlighted his recent three-day visit to Türkiye as part of a broader peace mission across the region. His trip included stops in Ankara, Istanbul, and the ancient city of Iznik, historically known as Nicaea, where early Christian councils were held.
"To have come to Türkiye and now to Lebanon on this trip, there was, of course, a special theme of, if you will, being a messenger of peace, of wanting to promote peace throughout the region," Pope Leo said.
The pope emphasized that his discussions with Erdogan represented an essential component of his Turkish visit, praising the country's model of interfaith coexistence. Türkiye's Muslim-majority society maintains significant Christian minority communities, a dynamic the pontiff described as exemplifying what "we all would be looking for throughout the world."
The Vatican has increasingly positioned itself as a neutral mediator in global conflicts, with Pope Leo's visit to Türkiye marking the latest effort to engage regional powers with influence over multiple flashpoints. Erdogan has maintained diplomatic channels with both Moscow and Kyiv throughout the Ukraine conflict, while also playing a significant role in Middle Eastern affairs.
Pope Leo reiterated the Vatican's longstanding support for a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, acknowledging Israel's current opposition while insisting it remains the only viable path forward. The Holy See is working to serve as a mediating voice to achieve a just resolution for all parties, he said.
"We have also spoken about this with President Erdogan. He certainly agrees with this proposal. Türkiye has an important role that could play in this," the pope added.
The papal visit to Türkiye follows Pope Leo's efforts to strengthen the Catholic Church's diplomatic presence in regions experiencing conflict or tension. Lebanon, his next destination, faces its own complex political and sectarian challenges while hosting large refugee populations from neighboring Syria.
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