Pope Leo XIV kicked off his first foreign trip as the American pope on Thursday by emphasizing Turkey's crucial role in fostering stability and peace in a world plagued by conflict. The 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a historic gathering of bishops from around the Roman Empire, is at the heart of this visit, which aims to strengthen relations between Christians and Muslims.
Leo praised Turkey for its position as a bridge between East and West, where religions and cultures intersect. He urged the country to promote dialogue and take firm action in support of a just and lasting peace. The pope's message was closely watched, especially given that he is the first American pope to deliver speeches in English outside the Vatican.
Turkey has been actively engaged in efforts to end conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and Leo acknowledged this role as Pope. However, not everyone in Turkey seems enthusiastic about his visit. While some welcomed the pope's words on peace and stability, others expressed skepticism about the impact of this trip.
Critics point out that international politics is a secondary concern for many Turks, who are grappling with an ongoing economic crisis. Fatma Cicek Geyik, a 57-year-old artist from Ankara, noted that while Leo's visit will bring some joy, it should not be exaggerated. "They will leave just as they came," she said.
The pope also touched on the issue of women's rights during his speech. He praised initiatives in Turkey aimed at supporting women and their contributions to society. However, he also acknowledged that more work is needed in this area.
After Ankara, Leo plans to visit Istanbul for meetings with Orthodox Christian leaders and representatives of Turkey's majority Muslim community. The pope's trip marks an important moment in relations between the Vatican and Turkey, which has its own unique blend of history and culture.
Leo praised Turkey for its position as a bridge between East and West, where religions and cultures intersect. He urged the country to promote dialogue and take firm action in support of a just and lasting peace. The pope's message was closely watched, especially given that he is the first American pope to deliver speeches in English outside the Vatican.
Turkey has been actively engaged in efforts to end conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and Leo acknowledged this role as Pope. However, not everyone in Turkey seems enthusiastic about his visit. While some welcomed the pope's words on peace and stability, others expressed skepticism about the impact of this trip.
Critics point out that international politics is a secondary concern for many Turks, who are grappling with an ongoing economic crisis. Fatma Cicek Geyik, a 57-year-old artist from Ankara, noted that while Leo's visit will bring some joy, it should not be exaggerated. "They will leave just as they came," she said.
The pope also touched on the issue of women's rights during his speech. He praised initiatives in Turkey aimed at supporting women and their contributions to society. However, he also acknowledged that more work is needed in this area.
After Ankara, Leo plans to visit Istanbul for meetings with Orthodox Christian leaders and representatives of Turkey's majority Muslim community. The pope's trip marks an important moment in relations between the Vatican and Turkey, which has its own unique blend of history and culture.
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. And what about the economic crisis Fatma was talkin' about? That's like, a whole other can of worms 
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. Still, I reckon it's all about the optics at this point – how's this gonna impact his legacy as the American pope? 
IT REALLY SHOWS THAT HE CARES ABOUT THE GLOBAL ISSUES AND NOT JUST LOCAL MATTERS 
THE FACT THAT HE PRaised TURKEY FOR ITS ROLE AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN EAST AND WEST IS ALSO REALLY COOL 
I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE BEING SKEPTICAL ABOUT HIS VISIT THOUGH - MAYBE THEY JUST NEED TO LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY AND SEE THE GOOD IN IT 
like they forgot the 1,700th anniversary is all about promoting peace & stability 
Leo hit all the right notes in his speech esp with the women's rights thing 
gotta give credit to initiatives in Turkey supporting womxn! 
Also I'm low-key stoked he spoke in english outside the vatican lol 
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. Can't he see that everyone's got problems at home, no matter where they are in the world? Maybe he should try talking to people who actually care about what's going on outside the Vatican for once 
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. I guess you could say it's just another example of how times have changed, but some things remain the same 
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. But I do get why some people are skeptical about the trip - economic issues seem like a big deal for Turks right now 
. Still, it's all about promoting dialogue and peace, and who can argue with that? 
. Fatma Geyik's point about him just leaving like he came is kinda valid though... 
Maybe the real value of this trip is the relationships he builds and the conversations he starts, even if they don't lead to instant results 
. And honestly, I think it's awesome that Pope Leo is recognizing women's rights and supporting initiatives in Turkey - that's a step in the right direction 
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! He's speaking truth about how crucial this country is for stability and peace in the world 
. I'm curious to see how this trip will impact relations between Christians and Muslims in Turkey. Some people might be skeptical, but I think Leo's message is what we need more of right now 
. Can't wait to hear about his visit to Istanbul!
he's killin it on turkey's role in peace & stability! i mean, 1700 yrs of nicaea is a big deal 
and i love how he spoke english outside the vatican 
. I mean, it's true that Istanbul has been this major crossroads for so long, but I'm not sure if anyone really thinks the US, Vatican, or other Western countries are going to come to Turkey just because of that 
. Now let's see how well-received his trip ends up being 
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Still, it's good that he's acknowledging the importance of women's rights and dialogue in Turkey - that's a step in the right direction, for sure! 
I gotta say, I'm a bit skeptical about Pope Leo XIV's visit to Turkey right now... 
