ankara, Türkiye
—
Pope Leo XIV warned of “conflict on a global level” in an impassioned address to Turkish civil leaders and parliamentarians, against the backdrop of multiple wars in the region.
“We are currently experiencing a phase of increasing levels of conflict at the global level, fueled by a dominant strategy of economic and military power, which has made it possible for what Pope Francis calls World War III to be fought piecemeal,” Leo told a gathering at the presidential palace in Ankara.
Leo is speaking on his first overseas trip, a six-day trip to Turkey and Lebanon, where he spoke on key themes of his fledgling pontificate, and the trip is an opportunity to exercise the Holy See’s soft power diplomacy. Since the beginning of his election, Mr. Leo has emphasized the importance of dialogue between people with different opinions and the dangers of polarization, and has called for peace in the Middle East.
Leo arrived in Ankara on Thursday for a six-day trip that will include Lebanon, where he was received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He was expected to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Francis, who emphasized important themes in his early pontificate and used his platform to draw attention to conflicts around the world.
On Thursday, in his first overseas diplomatic tour since taking over as Catholic world leader in May, Leo issued a scathing assessment that the world order was destabilized by “ambitions and choices that trample on justice and peace.”
“We must never give in to this,” said the first American pope. “The future of humanity is at stake.”
Erdogan reiterated that Leo’s visit to Ankara came at a “very critical time” amid the region’s wars, referring to the ongoing Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s deadly attack on the only Catholic church in the Palestinian enclave in July.
He praised Leo’s “strong stance” in defending the dignity and human rights of Palestinians. “The ceasefire reached in Gaza must be strengthened, the safety of civilians guaranteed and humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza without interruption,” Erdogan told diplomatic leaders.
Earlier on Thursday, Leo wished Americans a Happy Thanksgiving aboard the papal plane and thanked journalists for their work during his visit to Turkey.
“Happy Thanksgiving to all the American people here,” Leo said as he greeted reporters who had flown in from Rome.
Leo thanked the journalists “for the service you have rendered,” adding: “It is so important today that we convey our message in a way that truly reveals the truth and harmony that the world needs.”
Emphasis on “unity” and “peace”
Leo said his visit to Turkey and Lebanon will focus on “unity” and “peace” and “looking for ways to ensure that all men and women, despite differences, religions and beliefs, can be brothers and sisters.”
After arriving in the Turkish capital, Leo met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace on Thursday afternoon local time. The pope emerged from a black car and stepped onto a blue carpet before shaking hands with Erdogan at the entrance to the palace.
Leo is visiting two countries that are Muslim-majority but home to ancient Christian communities. His visit to Beirut came days after Israeli forces bombed the Lebanese capital.
On the plane, after receiving gifts of two pumpkin pies and a pecan pie, the traditional Thanksgiving dessert, Leo personally greeted each of the approximately 80 journalists on board, including CNN. While accepting the food, Leo said he was going to share some pumpkin pie.
Other gifts presented to the pope included a baseball bat once used by legendary baseball player Nellie Fox of Leo’s team, the Chicago White Sox, as well as White Sox slippers and socks.
Leo, an avid Wordle player, recently revealed that he chooses to change the first word of the popular online puzzle game every day. When asked by The Associated Press how he was doing today, Leo said he completed the puzzle in three tries.
Before making his rounds with reporters, the Pope was also greeted by Mexican journalist Valentina Alazraqui. Alazraki’s first papal flight was in 1979 with Pope John Paul II. Alazraki stressed that while meeting with journalists may feel like walking into a lion’s den, Leo has “nothing to fear.” She gave him an icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe, beloved by Catholics throughout the Americas.
On the first day of Leo’s trip, he also laid flowers at the Atatürk Mausoleum, where Turkey’s founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is buried.
He left Ankara for Istanbul late Thursday after visiting Turkey’s religious affairs chair, Diyanet, and meeting with the country’s chief rabbi.
Although constitutionally a secular state, Turkey is majority Muslim and home to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who is considered the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church and is headquartered in Istanbul.
Leo will meet with him on Friday to take part in the celebration of the church’s important monument: the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which formed the core beliefs of Christianity. The celebration will take place in Iznik, in present-day northwestern Turkey, where the council was held in 325 AD.
