Ankara: Pope Leo XIV wrapped up a historic and eventful first day of his Apostolic Journey to Turkiye on Thursday, setting the tone for his six-day tour of Türkiye and Lebanon with a powerful appeal for dialogue, mutual respect, and a renewed “culture of encounter” between communities.
The Holy Father touched down in Ankara on Thursday morning, marking the beginning of his first international journey as Pope. He was received at the airport by Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, who welcomed him on behalf of the government.
Following the official reception, Pope Leo proceeded to one of Türkiye’s most symbolic landmarks: Anıtkabir, the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. There, the pontiff laid a ceremonial wreath at the tomb of the founder of the modern Turkish Republic. As tradition dictates, he signed the “Golden Book,” writing in English: “I give thanks to God for being able to visit Türkiye, and I invoke upon this country and its people an abundance of peace and prosperity.”
The majority of Day One was dedicated to high-level meetings with Türkiye’s political and civic leaders. After leaving Anıtkabir, Pope Leo was escorted by mounted honor guards to the Presidential Palace, where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed him for a private discussion.
The two leaders later joined representatives of the diplomatic corps, civil society, and senior state officials at the Nation’s Library. Addressing the gathering, Pope Leo praised Türkiye’s historical role as a “bridge” between East and West, cultures and faiths. He stressed the centrality of family life, urged the rejection of the “globalization of indifference,” and encouraged the nurturing of a global culture rooted in dialogue, solidarity, and human dignity.
In the afternoon, the Pope held a private meeting with Safi Arpaguş, President of the Diyanet the state body responsible for guiding Sunni Islamic life in Türkiye. The encounter underscored the Holy Father’s commitment to strengthening interreligious understanding, particularly in a nation where more than 99% of the population identifies as Muslim, despite its secular constitutional framework.
Before departing Ankara, Pope Leo stopped at the Apostolic Nunciature to greet staff members. Later in the evening, he boarded a short flight to Istanbul, where the next phase of his Apostolic Journey will unfold.
Friday's schedule carries deep spiritual and historical weight. The Pope will gather with bishops, clergy, consecrated religious, and pastoral workers at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul for a prayer encounter.
He is also set to visit a care home for the elderly operated by the Little Sisters of the Poor an expression of the Church’s commitment to service and compassion.
One of the most significant moments of the visit will unfold on Friday afternoon in Nicaea (modern-day Iznik), where Pope Leo will join Christian leaders for an Ecumenical Prayer Service marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council an event that shaped the foundations of Christian theology and unity.
As Day One concludes, Pope Leo XIV’s message is clear: Türkiye, with its rich history and cultural crossroads, stands as a vital space for advancing peace, mutual respect, and encounters that transcend borders.