Pope Leo XIV, who succeeded Pope Francis in May, marked a significant step and began his modern religious diplomacy by launching his first international visit to Turkiye and later to Lebanon. The trip was carefully planned for two reasons: a pilgrimage to the ancient past and a deliberate signal to the future of inter-church relations. The priorities were also clear: focus solely on the theological aspect, strengthen Christian unity, and avoid the political drama often linked to papal visits. It is a three-day trip to Ankara, Istanbul, and Iznik in Türkiye. Pope Leo XIV’s goal could be to highlight the small Christian communities, including Armenians, while respecting the country’s Islamic identity.
Iznik is a modern name for the city of Nicaea, the birthplace of the Nicene Creed. Before the East-West Schism of 1054, the Nicene Creed was a foundational statement of faith shared by the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches. The commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea was the theological focus of the visit. Additionally, the act of praying alongside Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the ruins of the ancient basilica sent a silent message that Pope Leo XIV’s papacy is committed to Christian unity and healing divisions. Both Pope Leo XIV and Patriarch Bartholomew I signed the Joint Declaration in Istanbul to condemn and justify violence in the name of religion, calling for global peace.
In May 2001, John Paul II became the first pope to enter a Muslim place of worship and pray. Since then, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have followed the same pattern. Following his predecessors, Pope Leo XIV also visited the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) to show respect, removed his shoes, but did not pray. The message was clear on theological boundaries but also aimed to maintain goodwill. The intentional shift highlighted the importance of interreligious dialogue while reserving explicit, formal worship for Christian sacred spaces.
The visit was characterised by purposeful actions from the Pope. Notably, his schedule did not include a visit to the controversial Hagia Sophia, which was reopened by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July 2020 for Muslim prayers. Pope Leo’s intentional omission acted as a silent protest against the change of museum status that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk implemented in 1934. Skipping the divisive mosque emphasised the ongoing disapproval of the global Orthodox Christian community.
The most significant impact of this papal visit was felt by Türkiye’s small Christian community, which accounts for less than 0.4% of the population and includes Latin, Chaldean, Syriac, Greek Orthodox, and, most notably, Armenian Apostolic groups. For these communities, the Pope's visit brought hope and encouragement. The Pope's direct message to these groups conveyed the Vatican's reassurance and support. The Pope's message, "the logic of littleness is the church's true strength," was intended to reassure small communities and remind them of their strength, emphasising that true power is not in numbers but in their faithful witness.
Although the Turkish government vehemently denies the Armenian genocide on its soil during World War I, the historical facts remain unchanged, and for the Armenians, it is an irreplaceable trauma. Previously, Pope Francis used the term "Genocide" in 2015, causing diplomatic tensions with Turkey. However, Pope Leo XIV was cautious; instead of using explicit language, he made a symbolic gesture by praying at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Istanbul. His meetings with Christian leaders have renewed hope among small Christian communities, and the Pope's gestures, especially his meeting with the Armenian spiritual leader, have reassured them that their ancient heritage and ongoing struggles are visible to the world.
Pope Leo XIV’s first international diplomatic trip has served as a symbol of peace and unity. He sidesteps controversy by concentrating on Nicaea instead of political drama. He highlights that the church’s role isn’t to intervene in politics but to connect ancient faith with the modern world and to unite different religious communities in harmony.
The author is a doctoral candidate at the Centre for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.