Pope Leo XIV urges Türkiye to act as global mediator during first foreign visit

Pope Leo XIV on November 27 called on Türkiye to assume a greater mediating role in global conflicts during talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as he began his first foreign tour as pontiff.

Addressing officials and diplomats in Ankara at the start of his four-day visit, the Pope said Türkiye could serve as a source of stability and help foster rapprochement between nations in pursuit of a just and lasting peace. He emphasised the need for leaders who are committed to dialogue with determination and patience, noting that global tensions were on the rise, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media. 

Türkiye has increasingly presented itself as a mediator on the international stage, working alongside Western powers in efforts to resolve conflicts ranging from the war in Ukraine to fighting in Gaza, as well as crises in the Horn of Africa. The Pope described the country as playing a unique role bridging East and West, Asia and Europe, while also being shaped by its internal diversity.

Pope Leo’s debut overseas trip as head of the Catholic Church includes a six-day mission to Türkiye and Lebanon, which the Vatican has described as demanding due to a busy schedule of meetings with political and religious leaders amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.

By Sabina Mammadli