Pope Leo XIV, President of the Vatican City State and spiritual leader of Catholics, conveyed the message to journalists on the special plane flying to Ankara, "We hope to emphasize how important peace is for the whole world." The Pope, who was welcomed by clerics and ministers at Esenboğa Airport, visited Anıtkabir. The Pope, also welcomed with an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex, held a private meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Pope Leo XIV and Erdoğan Statement: Visit an Important Step Strengthening Our Common Ground
Pope Leo XIV and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who held inter-delegation talks in Ankara as part of the Türkiye visit, addressed the guests. Erdoğan said, “I consider this visit to be a very important step strengthening our common ground.” The Pope stated, “May Türkiye be a source of stability and rapprochement among peoples in the service of a just and lasting peace.”
The last papal visit to Türkiye was made by Pope Francis in 2014. Pope Leo XIV, who was elected as the President of the Vatican City State and the 267th leader of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025, after Pope Francis' death on April 21, 2025, made his first official foreign trip to Türkiye.
Italian ITA allocated a special plane for Pope Leo XIV, who will have a series of visits and contacts along the Ankara, Istanbul, and Iznik line until November 30. The plane carrying the Pope took off from Rome's Fiumicino Airport at 07:58 for Türkiye's capital, Ankara.
Spoke to Journalists
More than 80 journalists on the plane greeted the Pope, and gifts were presented. According to the Vatican News report, the Pope gave a speech on the plane. Beginning his speech with the words, “I want to start today by thanking all of you who serve the Vatican, the Holy See, me personally, and also the whole world,” the Pope shared the following with the journalists: "I am very happy to have been able to make this journey, which I look forward to because of its significance for all Christians and the world."
Emphasis on 'Call for Unity and Peace'
The Pope stated that this special journey being directed towards Türkiye and Lebanon primarily carries the meaning of unity, also emphasizing that it is in the context of the commemoration of the "First Council of Nicaea," which is being held on the occasion of its 1700th anniversary this year. Pope Leo XIV underlined the importance of this journey for both Christians and the entire world in terms of promoting peace and emphasizing the unity of faith. He stated that this visit is a call for "unity and peace" aimed at dialogue and understanding between communities of different faiths, such as the Islamic and Christian worlds. The Pope also used the expression, "We hope to emphasize how important peace is for the whole world."
The plane landed at Ankara Esenboğa Airport at 12:30. A welcoming committee was present for the Pope at the airport. The Pope, who was greeted by the Spiritual Leader of Catholic Armenians in Türkiye, Kerabaydzar Vartan Kazancıyan, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Catholic spiritual leaders, and officials, then proceeded to visit Anıtkabir.
First Visit to Anıtkabir
The Pope walked along the "Aslanlı Yol", laid a wreath at Atatürk's mausoleum, and observed a moment of silence. Signing the Anıtkabir special memorial book, the Pope wrote: "I thank God that I have been able to visit Türkiye and I wish this country and its people much peace and prosperity."
He then set off for the Presidential Complex. Pope Leo XIV was welcomed there with an official ceremony. The Pope shook hands with President Tayyip Erdoğan and greeted the delegation. Later, the two met privately.
Pope Leo XIV's visit was the first visit by a Pope to Türkiye after an 11-year gap.
