Istanbul: The Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV at Istanbul’s Volkswagen Arena on Saturday transformed into a vivid tapestry of cultures, traditions, and Christian denominations, as thousands of faithful gathered to witness a moment that many described as historic, unifying, and deeply symbolic for Türkiye’s Christian community.
During his homily, Pope Leo drew inspiration from the three bridges spanning the Bosphorus Strait, urging believers to become “builders of bridges” in their own lives bridges that foster unity, dialogue, and peace in a world strained by conflict and division. As he spoke, an audience representing a remarkable blend of confessions and nationalities listened with profound attention, embodying the very message of communion he sought to convey.
Among the congregation was Can Sancar, who had travelled two hours from southern Türkiye with a diverse group of ten people representing various Christian traditions, including Catholic, Armenian, and Syriac Orthodox.
“We are very happy to participate together all Christian people together,” he said, expressing how rare and meaningful such moments of unity are within the country’s small but vibrant Christian population.
He added that his group had also followed on television the ecumenical prayer service in Iznik the previous day, where Pope Leo XIV, Patriarch Bartholomew I, and other Christian leaders marked the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.
“For us, it was a special and historic moment,” Sancar noted.
Nicholas and Yigit Bilge, aged 32 and 17, served as volunteers at the Mass, proudly wearing white hoodies emblazoned with the papal visit logo. “This is a historic moment for Christians in Türkiye. We didn’t want to just watch and leave we wanted to serve,” said Yigit.
Nicholas, originally from Iran and now a schoolteacher in a town 16 hours away by car, flew to Istanbul in order to be present. “I couldn’t sleep for the last two nights because of my excitement,” he admitted, recalling that he had also seen the Pope during the Jubilee of Youth in August.
For Yigit, the Pope’s message during the visit could be distilled into one powerful word: peace. “He is the only global leader who consistently speaks about peace,” he reflected. Nicholas added another theme: love.
“The Bible commands us to love our neighbours, and in Türkiye we live among neighbours of many beliefs. This visit reminds us of that,” he said. For Tamar Karasu Mayoglu, a member of the Armenian Apostolic Church and an employee of the Bible Society, the Pope’s visit is nothing short of a beacon of hope.
“It’s hard to describe our feelings. But this visit is a profound message about peace and reconciliation at a time when the world desperately needs both,” she shared.
She had also attended the Pope’s meeting with the Catholic community at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on Friday, where she personally handed him a book on an ecumenical symposium she organized about the Council of Nicaea.
Celine Guilavogui, a 23-year-old Catholic student from Guinea, said she never imagined she would see the Pope in Türkiye.
“Christianity has deep roots in this land, but today it is a predominantly Muslim country. Seeing the Pope here gives us hope,” she said, adding that gathering with other Christians brought her immense joy.
Paul and Sylvie Yabas travelled all the way from France specifically to attend the Mass. Sylvie, a Chaldean Christian who lived in Türkiye until age ten, described the experience as deeply personal. “We feel like we’re receiving a special blessing. Pope Leo brings hope, peace, and love,” she said.
Before leaving, she offered a message she hoped would echo far beyond the arena’s walls: “In every country, whether we are Christians, Muslims, or of another religion, we are all brothers and sisters. I want the whole world to understand this.”
Pope Leo XIV’s Mass in Istanbul thus became more than a liturgical celebration it was a powerful moment of communion among peoples of various rites, ethnicities, languages, and histories. Together, they stood as a living mosaic of faith, embodying the Pope’s call to unity and peace in a region where bridges both literal and symbolic carry profound meaning.