November 27th, 2025 - Pope Leo XIV Meets Erdogan in Turkey, Promoting Dialogue and Cooperation

Pope Leo XIV embarked on his first international trip as pontiff on Thursday, arriving in Turkey to foster dialogue between different faiths and strengthen relations with other Christian denominations. His visit to Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country with a small Catholic population, signifies a modern message of cooperation and unity.

During his visit, the Pope met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and later visited local Catholic clergy and Christian leaders, including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. On Sunday, Leo will continue his tour, heading to Lebanon, where he will meet with church and government officials amid a volatile political climate in the region.

The Pope’s visit to Turkey began with a speech at the National Library in Ankara, where he called for dialogue and compassion across different cultures and religious beliefs. He addressed pressing global issues such as peace, poverty, health, and education, emphasizing the need to focus on these challenges rather than the escalating conflicts worldwide.

While Pope Leo’s message of peace resonated strongly, he also highlighted the adverse effects of consumerism and the rapid advances of technology, specifically critiquing artificial intelligence for exacerbating societal issues. President Erdogan welcomed Leo’s remarks, particularly his stance on the war in Ukraine and the plight of Palestinians, which aligns with Turkey’s foreign policy.

The Pope’s decision to start his international journey in Turkey, a country with significant historical Christian-Muslim interaction, is seen as a symbolic move to bridge gaps and promote cooperation. In addition to his meetings with officials, Pope Leo will also visit the ancient city of Nicaea, marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, a pivotal moment in Christian history.

In a lighter moment, the Pope engaged with reporters during his flight from Rome, wishing them a happy Thanksgiving and even sharing personal anecdotes, such as completing the Wordle puzzle in three guesses. His trip is viewed as a diplomatic success for President Erdogan, who became the first head of state to welcome the new pope, further solidifying the diplomatic ties between Turkey and the Vatican.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Cornucopia (noun, kor-nuh-KOH-pee-uh) - A cornucopia, also known as a horn of plenty, is a curved, hollow goat’s horn or similarly shaped receptacle (such as a horn-shaped basket) that is overflowing, especially with fruit and vegetables. The image of a cornucopia is commonly used as decoration and as a symbol of abundance, but the word cornucopia is today more often encountered in its metaphorical use referring to an overflowing abundance, or to a seemingly inexhaustible amount of something.

Example: The zoo’s new aviary is a veritable cornucopia of color and sound, with scores of different bird species swooping and squawking through the canopy.

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