Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday called Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Turkey “a very important step that strengthens our common language,” TRT reported.
Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican’s head of state, arrived in the Turkish capital of Ankara on his first trip abroad, including Turkey and Lebanon.
The Pope will be in Turkey until Sunday on an official visit at the invitation of the Turkish president. In addition to Ankara, he is scheduled to visit Istanbul and Iznik, the historic site of the early Christian church, when it was known as Nicaea.
Speaking at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Erdogan said the pope’s visit comes at a very critical time amid regional and global tensions.
– I believe that the messages that will be transmitted from Turkey (with Pope Leo XIV) will reach the Turkish-Islamic world and the Christian world and strengthen the hope for peace around the world – Erdogan said.
The Turkish president also said that the pope’s calls for peace and dialogue are extremely important for the success of the diplomatic process in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
– As a family of humanity, our greatest debt to the Palestinian people is justice. The way to pay this debt is to implement the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders – said Erdogan, commenting on the latest Israeli offensive on Gaza.
– I believe that we will continue to act together against any aggressive actions that could harm the historical identity of East Jerusalem – he added.
Erdogan said the Israeli military was targeting civilian areas in Gaza, including churches and mosques, noting that one of the places of worship hit was the Holy Family Church in Gaza, which is run by the Catholic Church.
– Preservation of the historical status quo – in the Holy City of Jerusalem is of critical importance – emphasized the Turkish president.
(Vijesti.ba)
