At the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit with the Pope: Excitement, Tears, Faith, and a Divine Moment

The previous visit by the Pope to Turkey was made by Pope Francis in 2014. After Pope Francis' death on April 21, 2025, Pope Leo XIV, elected on May 8, 2025, as the 267th Head of the Vatican State and the Catholic Church, made his first official trip abroad to Turkey.

The Pope met with President Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on November 27 and arrived in Istanbul that same evening. Welcomed by Catholic clergy and the Governor of Istanbul, the Pope proceeded to the Vatican Representative Residence in Istanbul.

Beginning his visit to Istanbul on November 28, the Pope arrived at the Holy Spirit - Saint Esprit Cathedral in Şişli at around 9:00 a.m. Extensive security measures had been taken at the Cathedral for the "Prayer Meeting with Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Consecrated Persons, and Pastoral Workers."

After being searched by police, accredited guests for the prayer meeting, choir members, journalists, and communities of different ethnic backgrounds were admitted to the Cathedral in turn. Dozens of people from many parts of the world, wearing Pope T-shirts, were waiting in the garden.

A huge banner with the Vatican flag logo and the Latin slogan “In Illo Uno Unum” was hung in the Cathedral. This slogan, from St. Augustine, means “In One, we are one,” signifying that Christians are one in Jesus Christ. The banners also featured English and Turkish inscriptions reading, “Welcome Pope Leo XIV. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. Welcome Pope Leo XIV. Apostolic Journey to Türkiye. Nicea 325-2025.”

While people were entering the cathedral, screens were set up in the garden so that those who could not enter could watch the prayer. Those entering the cathedral with great anticipation were greeted by a choir led by a nun, singing hymns in Syriac, Italian, and Arabic.

In the altar section of the cathedral, there was a wooden chair upholstered in red for the Pope to sit on. As guests continued to flock to the cathedral, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mor Ignatius Joseph III Younan, Spiritual Leader of the Syriac Catholic Community and Patriarchal Vicar Mgr. Orhan Çanlı, Spiritual Leader of the Chaldeans of Turkey Mgr. Sabri Anar, Father Mikail Uçar of the Surp Levon Armenian Catholic Church, and other Catholic clergymen also began to take their places at the altar. In the front rows of the cathedral, Catholic nuns welcomed the guests as hosts.

As confirmed by the clergy who came to the cathedral, this prayer would be a special service for Armenians, Syriacs, Chaldeans, and Latin Catholics. Additionally, the Pope would hold today's prayer before the feast of St. Andrew, which will be celebrated tomorrow.

Accompanied by the choir's enchanting hymns, Pope Leo XIV arrived at the cathedral at 9:23 a.m. We discerned the Pope's arrival from the excitement, applause, and cries of “Long live the Pope” in Italian as he greeted the people in the garden.

Later, the Spiritual Leader of the Catholic Armenians of Turkey, Kerabaydzar Vartan Kazancıyan, who accompanied the Pope on his visit, entered the cathedral, followed by the Pope. Hundreds of people applauded the Pope with tears in their eyes. This time, the Pope's white liturgical vestments were complemented by a red sash (cloth) and a red stole hanging around his neck, with both ends falling down his chest. Due to "Holy Friday and the Feast of All Saints," the Pope wore red cloth and a stole in accordance with the colors of Catholic liturgical vestments.

The Pope's Ring and Cross

The Pope also wore a ring on his finger. The ring, bearing an image of Saint Peter, has origins and significance in the New Testament. This “Fisherman's Ring” affirms the faith and symbolizes the mission entrusted to the first Pope. When the Pope dies, the Fisherman's Ring is marked with a chisel along with the Lead Seal, thus preventing the seal from being forged. Therefore, each ring is unique and personal to each Pope. Now, Pope Leo XIV continues the tradition of the “Fisherman's Ring” with keys symbolizing the passing of the torch and an image of Saint Peter with a net. While Pope Francis wore a silver cross around his neck, Pope Leo XIV returned to tradition by wearing a gold cross.

At the end of the enthusiastic welcome, the Pope sat on the wooden chair at the altar and greeted the guests. Then, words from “St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans” were read. This was followed by a prayer on the “profession of faith” derived from the Declaration accepted at the First Council of Nicaea. The Pope also accompanied the prayers and hymns read by the choir and the guests in the cathedral.

Following this, the guests listened intently to the Pope, who delivered a lengthy sermon. Addressing many topics in his homily, the Pope said: “Your Excellencies, dear brother priests, dear sister nuns, clergy, pastoral workers, and all brothers and sisters, I am filled with great joy to be here with you. I thank the Lord for granting me the privilege of visiting Turkey, this ‘holy land’ where the history of the Israeli people intersects with the birth of Christianity, where the Old and New Testaments embrace each other, and where the pages of countless Councils were written, during my first Apostolic Journey."

Referring to the birth, importance, and spread of Christianity, the Pope recounted the historical presence of the Armenian, Greek, Syriac, Chaldean, and Latin Catholics. Reading passages from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the Pope said, "The Church in Turkey is a small community. But it is fruitful, like a seed and leaven of sovereignty. Within this unity that serves the Gospel, I encourage faith to take root and inspire a confident hope. The spirit of unity that enables us to share the Gospel with joy also walks with us. Some encouraging signs are already visible. One of these is the development of pastoral care, innovations in religious communication and education, and testimonies of faith, which are signs of this development, even if some may not be aware of it."

“There is resilience at the heart of Christian communities in Turkey”

Asking churches and clergy in Turkey to increase their pastoral services, the Pope said, "I believe that the Holy Spirit will guide you through every difficulty. You also have important experience in this regard from the past. There is resilience and witness at the heart of Christian communities in Turkey. Furthermore, the loyalty of the indigenous communities that have continued to stand firm on this land for centuries despite difficulties and their commitment to the Church's mission continue to strengthen your mission today. The spread of the Gospel has been strengthened, reborn, and gained new dynamism many times over on this land," he added.

Finally, explaining the significance of the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, the Pope once again emphasized the importance of the “profession of faith.” The Pope concluded his homily by commemorating St. John XXIII, saying, “I hope that you too will act with the same zeal, keep the joy of faith alive, and continue to work as courageous fishermen in the Lord's boat.” The guests applauded the Pope's homily for a long time.

The prayer ended with the recitation of the “Closing Prayer” and the removal of the Pope's red liturgical vestments by clergy. At this moment, hundreds of people in the cathedral stood up and shouted “Long live the Pope” in Italian, accompanied by applause. Shortly after, dozens of people lined up to present gifts to the Pope. The Pope gave them cross necklaces in return. Finally, a physically disabled child in a wheelchair approached the Pope. The Pope sat on a chair placed next to the child, took a photo with him, and prayed.

Farewell to the Divine ‘Moment’

It was now time to bid farewell to the Pope. As the guests in the cathedral pushed each other to get to the corners of the seats, even the Syriac hymns sung by the choir could not calm the atmosphere. Everyone reached out to touch the Pope as he began to walk from the altar, crying profusely. The Pope smiled as he shook the hands extended to him. We were very close. When he came to me, I also reached out my hand. Hands were reaching out from everywhere, and I didn't think he would see my hand. He took my hand, looked into my eyes, and smiled. Taking advantage of the opportunity, three people who were about to fall on me also reached out their hands, and when the Pope held their hands, they began to sob. After the farewell ceremony, which ended with chants of “Long live the Pope,” everyone's faces were transfixed. The guests who attended the Pope's prayer meeting today experienced a divine “moment” in the cathedral. And it was probably one of those “moments” they will never forget for the rest of their lives.

Today, the Pope welcomed not only the Catholic world but all Christians and communities of different faiths into his “home.” In particular, on his “First Apostolic Journey,” he traveled to Iznik with the spirit of the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea and an emphasis on the “profession of faith.”