Ankara: Pope Leo XIV used his first major international address as pontiff to urge Turkiye and the world to embrace dialogue over division and to build “bridges of fraternity” capable of uniting cultures, faiths, and continents. The appeal came just hours after the Holy Father touched down in Ankara, opening the first leg of his inaugural Apostolic Journey, which runs from November 27 to December 3.
The Pope’s six-day visit will take him from Türkiye’s historic Christian heartlands to Lebanon, a nation deeply shaped by interreligious coexistence. Beginning in Istanbul and culminating in Iznik the modern site of ancient Nicaea, where the First Ecumenical Council met 1,700 years ago the journey highlights themes of unity, dialogue, and the Church’s shared heritage with the region.
On Sunday, November 30, Pope Leo is scheduled to depart Türkiye and travel to Lebanon for the next phase of his pilgrimage.
Pope Leo began his public engagements on Thursday at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, followed by a gathering at the Nation’s Library, where government authorities, diplomats, and civil society leaders awaited his first formal speech abroad.
Thanking President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the warm welcome, the Pope described Türkiye as “a land that beckons humanity to fraternity,” a place inextricably linked to Christianity’s origins yet home to believers of Judaism and Islam. The country, he said, possesses a unique vocation to show the world how differences can inspire mutual respect rather than conflict.
He reflected on Türkiye’s landscapes, its mosaic of cultures, and centuries of history as reminders that societies thrive when generations and traditions are allowed to converge. “Uniformity would be an impoverishment,” he said, asserting that bridges literal and symbolic are essential for nurturing vibrant, pluralistic communities.
The emblem for the Apostolic Journey depicts the Dardanelles bridge, an image Pope Leo used to illustrate Türkiye’s identity as a meeting point straddling Europe and Asia. He urged Turkish society to reaffirm this vocation, saying the nation stands at a “crossroads capable of inspiring unity from east to west, tradition to modernity.”
However, he warned that a world increasingly polarized by extreme rhetoric risks tearing itself apart if it fails to value dialogue over confrontation.
Recalling the legacy of Pope Saint John XXIII who once served in Türkiye and championed a culture of encounter the Holy Father affirmed that Christians in the country remain eager to contribute to national harmony and shared progress.
Turning to Scripture, Pope Leo reflected on God as the ultimate bridge-builder the One who connects heaven and earth and calls humanity to imitate His compassion.
He emphasized that justice and mercy must always temper human ambition and warned that technological progress divorced from ethical grounding is dangerous. Even artificial intelligence, he said, ultimately reflects human decision-making: “Processes are not the work of machines, but of humanity itself.”
He urged world leaders to unite in repairing social fragmentation and “the wounds to the human family,” prioritizing dignity, solidarity, and responsibility.
The Pope also highlighted the central role of families in Turkish society, calling them “the first nucleus of social life.” Families, he said, teach the essential truth that “without the other, there is no I.”
While commending Türkiye’s efforts to support family values, he cautioned that isolation or internal silence can weaken any family’s vitality. True happiness, he affirmed, does not stem from radical individualism or from neglecting marital bonds and openness to life.
He lamented consumer-driven cultures that profit from loneliness and encouraged the promotion of affectionate, relational ways of living. Women, he noted, play an invaluable role in this renewal through their contributions to education, public service, academia, and cultural life.
Pope Leo expressed his desire that Türkiye continue serving as a stabilizing force in a region marked by geopolitical tensions. Citing the visits of Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis, he said the Holy See approaches Türkiye with “spiritual and moral strength” and a desire for collaboration.
His presence in Iznik this week, for the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, symbolizes the Church’s enduring commitment to unity through dialogue.
Against the backdrop of global conflicts, the Pope echoed warnings about what Pope Francis has described as “a third world war fought piecemeal.” Instead of investing resources in destruction, the world must prioritize peacebuilding, hunger eradication, environmental protection, and universal access to education and healthcare, he said.
Pope Leo closed his address with a call to move forward as partners in truth, friendship, and humility.
“Let us walk together,” he said, “in truth and friendship, humbly trusting in the help of God.”
With this message, the Holy Father set a profound tone for his Apostolic Journey one built on bridges, not barriers; on fraternity, not fear; and on the hope that Türkiye can help lead the world toward a future shaped by peace and human dignity.