Pope Leo XIV encourages Turkey to be a force for peace on his first foreign trip : NPR

ANKARA, Turkey — Pope Leo XIV encouraged Turkey to become a source of stability and dialogue in a conflict-ridden world as he began his first trip abroad as pope on Thursday with an appeal for peace amid efforts to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

The US Pope stressed the message of peace upon arriving in Ankara, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed him with a military guard of honor at the presidential palace.

Speaking to Erdogan and the country’s diplomatic corps in a library at the palace complex, Leo praised Turkey’s historic role as a bridge between East and West at the crossroads of religions and cultures.

“May Türkiye be a source of stability and reconciliation among peoples in the service of a just and lasting peace,” he said, speaking before a vast world. “Today, more than ever, we need people who will promote dialogue and practice it with strong will and patient determination.”

Leo’s visit comes as Turkey, a country of more than 85 million Sunni Muslims, has cast itself as a key mediator in efforts to end the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

Ankara has hosted several rounds of talks with Russia and Ukraine and has offered to participate in a stabilization force in Gaza to help monitor a fragile ceasefire. Israel, which has had poor relations with Turkey for years, accuses Ankara of supporting Hamas and denies any role for Turkish troops in the stabilization force.

Leo did not specifically cite the conflicts, but he quoted his predecessor Pope Francis in saying that the wars ravaging the world today are akin to a “Third World War fought in pieces”, with resources spent on weapons instead of fighting hunger and poverty and protecting creation.

“After two world wars, we are now experiencing a phase of increased conflict on a global scale,” he said. “We must not give up in this! The future of humanity is at stake.”

In his address, Erdogan said the Palestinian issue is central to achieving peace in the region and he praised the Vatican’s “firm stance” on it.

Erdogan said immediate steps should be taken to strengthen the ceasefire in Gaza, protect civilians and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid.

A word about giving importance to women

The speech was closely watched, as the first speech of any papal visit sets the tone for his visit. That’s even more true for this first trip abroad by the first American Pope, who will deliver all of his remarks in English in Turkey in his departure for the Italian-centric Vatican. Thus it was significant that Leo also commented on the plight of women in Türkiye.

“Women, in particular, through their studies and active participation in professional, cultural and political life, are increasingly putting themselves at the service of your community and making a positive impact on it on the international scene,” Leo said.

“We must give great importance in this regard to important initiatives that support the family and contribute to the full development of social life by women.”

Women’s rights activists continue to condemn Erdogan’s 2021 withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, a landmark European treaty signed in Istanbul in 2011 to protect women from violence. Critics say the move weakens security measures.

According to advocacy group We Will Stop Femicide, 237 women have been murdered in Turkey so far in 2025, most of them by husbands, partners or relatives, while another 247 women were found dead under suspicious circumstances.

This week, Erdogan unveiled a new five-point plan to tackle violence against women, including promoting a culture of respect, strengthening legal protections and rehabilitating criminals.

After Ankara, Leo travels to Istanbul for meetings and prayers with Orthodox Christian leaders as well as representatives of Türkiye’s majority Muslim community. After this he will travel to Lebanon on Sunday.

historical anniversary

The main purpose for Leo to visit Turkey is to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, an unprecedented gathering of at least 250 bishops from across the Roman Empire.

This occurred at a time when the Eastern and Western churches were still united. They split in the Great Schism of 1054, a split largely caused by disagreement over the primacy of the Pope.

The visit will also give Leo an opportunity to strengthen the Church’s relations with Muslims. Leo is to visit the Blue Mosque and chair an interfaith meeting in Istanbul.

Imam Asgin Tunca of the Blue Mosque, who received the Pope, said the visit would help advance Christian-Muslim relations and overcome popular prejudices about Islam.

Tunca said, “We want to reflect that image by showing the beauty of our religion through our hospitality – it’s God’s order.”

Speaking to reporters on his plane, Leo acknowledged the historic nature of his first trip abroad and said he was looking forward to it because of what it means for Christians and promoting peace in the world.

“And to invite all people to come together to seek greater unity, greater harmony, and to seek ways in which all men and women can truly become brothers and sisters despite differences, despite different religions, despite different beliefs.”

Leo also shared some more light-hearted moments with reporters, pointing out that Thursday was Thanksgiving in the United States.

“Here’s to Americans, Happy Thanksgiving!” he told about 80 journalists traveling on the pope’s plane. “It’s a wonderful day to celebrate.”

At least two journalists presented Leo with pumpkin pie. He was also gifted a baseball bat, which once belonged to famed White Sox player Nellie Fox, and a pair of White Sox-branded slippers and socks.

The latter gift was a reference to Leo’s quip last week that he only wears white socks, a play on words about his beloved Chicago baseball team.

reaction in Türkiye

Although support for the Palestinians and for an end to the war in Ukraine is widespread in Turkey, for many, international politics are a secondary concern, as they face a crisis of survival due to market turmoil caused by turmoil in domestic politics.

This may explain why Leo’s visit escaped the attention of many people in the country, at least outside the country’s small Christian community.

Fatma Cicek Geyik, a 57-year-old artist, said the trip would bring some happiness but it should not be exaggerated. He said Türkiye is a land with a powerful history and he does not see the need to “amplify” the presence of others.

She said, “He is welcome, his visit will bring happiness. But I do not consider it an exaggeration.” “They will leave the same way they came.”