Pope Leo XIV concludes Turkey visit: Joint declaration with Patriarch Bartholomew

WISE NEWS PRESS / ISTANBUL, TURKEY — DEC. 1, 2025

Pope Leo XIV concluded his four-day historic visit to Turkey by co-officiating a divine liturgy with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Fener Greek Patriarchate and issuing a strong call for peace in the Middle East.

The visit, which underscored themes of interfaith dialogue and Christian unity, culminated in a joint declaration signed by the two spiritual leaders. Before departing for Lebanon, the Pope also addressed the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, emphasizing the necessity of a political resolution.

Historic ceremony at the Patriarchate

On the final day of his itinerary, Pope Leo XIV arrived at the Fener Greek Patriarchate, the center of the Orthodox world. He was received by Patriarch Bartholomew, with whom he attended a religious ceremony at the Church of St. George.

Following a private meeting that lasted approximately two hours, the leaders signed a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

Prior to the ceremony, the Pope held an emotional meeting with Andrea Minguzzi, the father of Ahmet Minguzzi, who recently lost his life in a knife attack in Kadıköy.

"I cried tears of joy," Andrea Minguzzi told reporters after the audience. "Ahmet made this happen; Ahmet brought me together with the Pope. I asked them to bless our son Mattia Ahmet and our family. Our greatest wish is for his memory to continue inspiring peace."

Visit to the Blue Mosque and Mor Efrem

Earlier in the day, the Pontiff visited the historic Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque), where he was welcomed by Minister of Culture and Tourism Nuri Ersoy. Amid tight security, the Pope toured the mosque while Muezzin Aşgın Musa Tunca provided information about the site's history, noting the linguistic connection between the mosque's "mihrab" and the Virgin Mary's chamber.

Following the mosque tour, Pope Leo traveled to Yeşilköy to visit the Mor Efrem Syriac Orthodox Church, the first church built in the history of the Turkish Republic. There, he met with leaders of various Christian communities before proceeding to the Volkswagen Arena for a final mass attended by thousands of Christians from diverse backgrounds.

Call for a two-state solution

Speaking to journalists aboard the papal plane en route to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV addressed the volatile situation in the Middle East. He reiterated the Vatican's stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, stating that a "two-state solution" remains the only viable path to halting the violence and achieving lasting peace in the region.

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