During a meeting at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on July 2, Pope Leo XIV lauded Türkiye’s record on minority and Christian rights, calling the country “a model” and describing it as “an important voice for peace in the region.”
The remarks were made during a private audience with Turkish First Lady Emine Erdoğan, who was visiting the Vatican to participate in a high-level conference hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.
The Pope also expressed a personal interest in strengthening bilateral and interfaith relations by visiting Türkiye in the near future. “I would like one of my first international visits as Pope to be to Türkiye,” he said, signaling the significance he places on Türkiye’s role in fostering peace and interreligious dialogue.
Preparations are reportedly underway for a potential papal visit in late November. The Pope noted that 2025 will mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, held in present-day Iznik, northwestern Türkiye — an event of great historical and theological importance for Christianity. He emphasized the anniversary as a “symbolic opportunity for interfaith dialogue.”
“Türkiye is not only important to Christians historically, it also serves as a unique and vital bridge for building peace,” Pope Leo XIV added, reflecting on the country’s geographic and cultural position between East and West.
In their wide-ranging discussion, the two leaders also addressed pressing global humanitarian concerns, ethical multilateralism, and the preservation of family values in the modern world.
“The family is the key to societal peace,” said First Lady Emine Erdoğan. “It offers solutions to many of today’s problems, such as loneliness and excessive individualism.”
Echoing her remarks, Pope Leo XIV affirmed the centrality of family in religious and social life. “Family holds a sacred place in both our faiths,” they emphasized together, underscoring a shared belief in the unifying power of familial structures amid rising social fragmentation.
The meeting followed Erdoğan’s speech at the Vatican conference titled “Economy Based on Brotherhood: Ethical Multilateralism,” where she emphasized inclusive economic models and moral responsibility in international governance.
By Vafa Guliyeva
Source: caliber.az
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