The pontiff began his first apostolic journey in Turkey highlighting the image of the Dardanelles Bridge as a symbol of unity between Asia and Europe, but also the country’s “plurality”. He called for the "culture of encounter" advocated by Pope Francis, but also by Pope John XXIII who served as apostolic delegate in Istanbul 90 years ago. Leo also called for love to have a "public" dimension while rejecting the mindset that “might is right”.

Ankara (AsiaNews) – A bridge is the image accompanying Leo XIV's first apostolic journey to Turkey (Türkiye), a bridge between two opposing shores, between East and West, between Asia and Europe, between one person and another, between different cultures, religions, and peoples, and between God and humanity,

The Dardanelles Bridge, suspended between Gallipoli and Lapseki, is in the official logo of the apostolic visit, the metaphor the pontiff evoked in his first speech in Turkey, at the National Library, where he met with the country’s authorities, as well as representatives of civil society groups, and members of the diplomatic corps.

The bridge “eloquently expresses your country’s special role,” Leo said. “You have an important place in both the present and future of the Mediterranean, and of the whole world, above all by valuing your internal diversity.”

The pontiff left Rome at 7:58 am aboard an ITA Airways Airbus 320neo, for his first trip as pope outside the Vatican and Italy, landing in the capital, Ankara, at 10:22 am local time.

During the flight, he stressed unity and peace as the values ​​that are accompanying him first to Turkey and later to Lebanon, principles which he reiterated speaking to the journalists aboard the plane, following a tradition begun by Pope Francis.

The notion of unity is intertwined with the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which will be marked tomorrow in Iznik. Peace amid the clash of arms in the Middle East.

“[A]ll men and women can truly be brothers and sisters, in spite of differences, in spite of different religions, in spite of different beliefs,” the pontiff told the journalists.

In his first address and throughout the visit, the Holy See is using the name Türkiye instead of Turkey. This follows President Erdoğan’s request in 2022 that the country’s Turkish name be used internationally.

In Ankara, the pontiff first visited the mausoleum dedicated to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of modern Turkey, followed by a visit to the presidential palace, where he shook hands with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, now in his third mandate as president.

The welcoming ceremony included traditional anthems, a 21-gun salute, and an honour guard. Afterwards, Leo travelled to the National Library.

In his greeting, the Turkish leader expressed appreciation for the papal visit, which follows those of Paul VI in 1967, John Paul II in 1979, Benedict XVI in 2006, and Francis in 2014; he also noted that Turkey has been committed to restoring 150 places of worship since 2022, stressing cultural and religious diversity as an opportunity for unity – a bridge – rather than separation.

Erdoğan also mentioned Turkey's commitment to welcoming refugees from Syria, as well as supporting the two-state solution for Palestine and Israel, citing the 70,000 people killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023.

Pope Leo XIV began his address by mentioning Turkey's "natural beauty" and "cultural, artistic, and spiritual richness", traits that reveal that “great civilizations are forged” when “development and wisdom are drawn together into a unity.”

He also mentioned the “responsibility" of being a "people with such a great past”, citing the image of the Dardanelles Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world, which, before connecting two continents, “connects Türkiye to itself”, symbolically uniting the country's "crossroads of sensibilities."

“Indeed, a society is alive if it has a plurality, for what makes it a civil society are the bridges that link its people together,” he added. Unfortunately, nowadays, “human communities are increasingly polarized and torn apart by extreme positions that fragment them,” he lamented.

While speaking of Turkey's predominantly Muslim society, the pope also stressed that its Christian communities "desire to contribute positively to the unity of your country."

Leo XIV cited Saint John XXIII, nicknamed "the Turkish Pope" for his friendship towards the nation, who served in Turkey as administrator of the Latin Vicariate and apostolic delegate.

John XXII, who encouraged Catholics to contribute to the birth of the Republic, wrote: “It seems logical that everyone should mind their own business, their own family or national traditions, keeping within the limited circle of their own community... My dear brothers and sisters, my dear children, I must tell you that in the light of the Gospel and of Catholic principles, this is a false logic.”

Leo acknowledged the “great strides” made since then, explicitly urging everyone to follow what Pope Francis called the “culture of encounter,” which contrasts with the “globalization of indifference”. This means, “inviting us to feel the pain of others and to listen to the cry of the poor and of the earth. He thus encouraged us to compassionate action, which is a reflection of the one God”.

Turning back to the image of the bridge, the pope said that, “God, in revealing himself, established a bridge between heaven and earth. [. . .] It is a vast suspension bridge, almost defying the laws of physics. Likewise, in addition to its intimate and private aspects, love too has a visible and public dimension.” This "public" dimension is marked by "justice and mercy," as opposed to "might is right”, he explained. This presupposes "that compassion and solidarity be considered as the authentic criteria for development."

Pope Leo XIV added that, today, “to honor the dignity and freedom of all God's children" is a "great challenge, which must reshape local policies and international relations”. In light “of technological developments” and the presence of “artificial intelligence”; there is a risk of exacerbating “injustice instead of helping to overcome it.”

For this reason, “Today, more than ever, we need people who will promote dialogue and practice it with firm will and patient resolve,” the pope said.

Underlining a "phase marked by a heightened level of conflict", which the world is going through, in which “strategies of economic and military power” prevail, “We must in no way give in to this!”

Humanity’s “real challenges” are “peace, the fight against hunger and poverty, health and education, and the protection of creation.”

The pope described the “human family” as a “a bridge – between our common destiny and the experiences of each individual.”

“More so than in other countries, the family retains great importance in Turkish culture, and there is no shortage of initiatives to support its centrality.” At the same time, it is necessary to “support the family and the contribution that women make”.

Leo warned, however, that “people do not obtain greater opportunities or happiness from an individualistic culture, nor by showing contempt for marriage or shunning openness to life”; the same is true for deceptive “consumerist economies”; instead, he recommended, “a culture that appreciates affection and personal connection.”

Last but not least, addressing Erdoğan directly, he said: “Mr President, may Türkiye be a source of stability and rapprochement between peoples, in service of a just and lasting peace.”

• vatican
• holy see
• turkey
• türkiye
• pope leo xiv
• recep tayyip erdoğan
• apostolic visit