Pope Leo XIV praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his circle of relatives coverage on his first commute out of the country and highlighted Turkey’s “special role”. In Ankara, Erdogan welcomed Leo with army honors. In his deal with to the leaders of the state and society, the Pope emphasised the overseas coverage position of the rustic. They occupy the most important position within the provide and long term of the Mediterranean and the entire international,” he stated.
He additionally referred to the mediating position that Turkey performs in quite a lot of conflicts. “Let Turkey be a source of stability and rapprochement between nations, in the service of just and lasting peace,” stated Leo. Other folks “who promote dialogue” are extra necessary lately than ever. Turkey performs a “special role” as a bridge between East and West, Asia and Europe.
The Pope requires spiritual tolerance
“Christians want a positive contribution to unity,” the pope stated. “They are and feel part of the Turkish identity,” he added. After being expelled within the early twentieth century, Christians at the moment are just a minority within the nation. Within the early twentieth century, squaddies of the Ottoman Empire killed loads of hundreds of Christian Armenians – consistent with maximum historians, the primary genocide of the twentieth century. Turkey nonetheless does now not acknowledge the bloodbath as genocide.
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“In a society like Turkey’s, where religion plays a visible role, it is essential to respect the dignity and freedom of all God’s children: men and women, compatriots and foreigners, poor and rich,” Leo stated. Freedom of faith is enshrined within the Turkish charter, however is proscribed in apply. Erdogan and his Islamic conservative AKP govt also are selling a better presence of Islam in public existence.
Erdogan described the pope’s consult with to Turkey’s spiritual authority Diyanet and deliberate consult with to the Sultanahmet mosque as “a sign of his willingness to develop constructive relations with Muslims.”
Reward for circle of relatives and girls’s coverage
Relating to Erdogan’s circle of relatives coverage, the pope welcomed the truth that the central position of the circle of relatives in Turkish tradition is upheld. “Neither an individualistic culture nor a disdain for marriage and fertility offers people more life opportunities and happiness,” Leo stated. He additionally praised projects for girls. They put themselves increasingly more on the provider of the rustic via research {and professional}, cultural and political participation.
Within the afternoon, Leo XIV flew from the capital Ankara to Istanbul. After a four-day consult with to Turkey, the pope desires to trip to Lebanon.
Extra concerning the subject
Z+ (subscription content material); Pope Leo’s Center East Struggle: And Through The Method, Turkey Is Successful
