Pope Leo XIV Begins Tour of Turkey, Lebanon โฃFocused โonโ Interfaith Dialog, Peace
ISTANBUL -โ Pope Leo XIV embarked on his first foreign trip โคtoday, beginning with aโข visit to Turkey where heโฃ is expected to address the challenges faced by the country’s Christian minority and advocate for religious freedom. The Pope’s visit comes as Turkey,โข aโ secular nation with a population of almost โ86 million, hosts an estimated 180,000 Christians – including Armenians, Assyrians, Turkish Christians, and Greek Orthodox Christians – primarily in Istanbul.
During โhis time in Turkey, Leo visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the turkish republic, and met with President Erdogan. Discussions are anticipated to cover the status of Christians in the region, interfaith dialogue with Islam, and the ongoing conflict in โgaza. Aโค key topic of conversation is the potential reopening โขof the Greek Orthodox Seminary โon Heybeliada island, closed in 1971 due โto restrictionsโ on private higher education. President Erdogan indicated in September, during a visit to the Whiteโฃ House, that he would “do his part” to facilitate the school’s reopening.
The Pope’s itineraryโข also includes a visit to Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, continuing a tradition established by his predecessors Benedict XVI and Francis.
Following hisโ engagements in turkey,Pope Leo XIVโค will travel to Lebanon on Sunday,at the invitation of Lebanese bishops,to deliver a message of peace and reconciliation.The Pope has consistently positioned Vatican City as a neutral ground for peace negotiations, โa role echoed by President Erdogan’s efforts to mediate international โคconflicts.Leo has proclaimed peace and reconciliation as central to his papacy, advocating for dialogue and disarmament in conflicts ranging from Ukraine to the Middle East. He is scheduledโค to return to Rome on Tuesday afternoon.