As he opens his first foreign trip, Pope Leo XIV encourages Turkey to be a force for stability, peace

Pope Leo XIV kicked off his first foreign trip as the American pope on Thursday by emphasizing Turkey's crucial role in fostering stability and peace in a world plagued by conflict. The 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a historic gathering of bishops from around the Roman Empire, is at the heart of this visit, which aims to strengthen relations between Christians and Muslims.

Leo praised Turkey for its position as a bridge between East and West, where religions and cultures intersect. He urged the country to promote dialogue and take firm action in support of a just and lasting peace. The pope's message was closely watched, especially given that he is the first American pope to deliver speeches in English outside the Vatican.

Turkey has been actively engaged in efforts to end conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and Leo acknowledged this role as Pope. However, not everyone in Turkey seems enthusiastic about his visit. While some welcomed the pope's words on peace and stability, others expressed skepticism about the impact of this trip.

Critics point out that international politics is a secondary concern for many Turks, who are grappling with an ongoing economic crisis. Fatma Cicek Geyik, a 57-year-old artist from Ankara, noted that while Leo's visit will bring some joy, it should not be exaggerated. "They will leave just as they came," she said.

The pope also touched on the issue of women's rights during his speech. He praised initiatives in Turkey aimed at supporting women and their contributions to society. However, he also acknowledged that more work is needed in this area.

After Ankara, Leo plans to visit Istanbul for meetings with Orthodox Christian leaders and representatives of Turkey's majority Muslim community. The pope's trip marks an important moment in relations between the Vatican and Turkey, which has its own unique blend of history and culture.

I gotta say, I'm a bit surprised Pope Leo is makin' such a big deal about Turkey's role in stability and peace. Don't get me wrong, it's all well and good, but I feel like there's more to the story than just throwin' some praise their way .

Like, let's be real, Turkey's been playin' both sides for ages, and it's hard to trust 'em entirely . And what about the economic crisis Fatma was talkin' about? That's like, a whole other can of worms .

I'm curious to see how this trip unfolds, though. Pope Leo seems like a pretty straight shooter, and he's definitely makin' some good points about women's rights . Still, I reckon it's all about the optics at this point – how's this gonna impact his legacy as the American pope?

I THINK ITS GREAT THAT POPE LEOS TRIP FOCUSES ON PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE WORLD IT REALLY SHOWS THAT HE CARES ABOUT THE GLOBAL ISSUES AND NOT JUST LOCAL MATTERS THE FACT THAT HE PRaised TURKEY FOR ITS ROLE AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN EAST AND WEST IS ALSO REALLY COOL I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE BEING SKEPTICAL ABOUT HIS VISIT THOUGH - MAYBE THEY JUST NEED TO LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY AND SEE THE GOOD IN IT

I think it's a bit weird that some ppl r saying the pope's visit won't bring any change 2 Turkey like they forgot the 1,700th anniversary is all about promoting peace & stability Leo hit all the right notes in his speech esp with the women's rights thing gotta give credit to initiatives in Turkey supporting womxn! Also I'm low-key stoked he spoke in english outside the vatican lol

I'm not sure what's going on with this Pope Leo XIV guy... seems like he's trying to make a big deal outta every little thing . I mean, 1,700 years ago or whatever it is, the Council of Nicaea was probably just as confusing back then as it sounds today. And now he's flying all around Turkey talking about peace and stability? It feels like a repeat of what we used to hear from those old newsreels about President Kennedy .

And I don't know how much faith people should put in this Pope's words on women's rights... seems a bit watered down if you ask me. Like, back when my grandma was growing up, women could barely own property or vote, and now we're supposed to be all equals and stuff? It just doesn't add up .

I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me why this Pope is making such a big deal out of Turkey's economic crisis . Can't he see that everyone's got problems at home, no matter where they are in the world? Maybe he should try talking to people who actually care about what's going on outside the Vatican for once .

It's funny how some folks back in the States were all excited when John F. Kennedy was first elected... now we've got a Pope trying to be the "cool" leader . I guess you could say it's just another example of how times have changed, but some things remain the same .

I don't usually comment but... I think Pope Leo's visit is a great opportunity to strengthen ties between Christians and Muslims . It's really cool that he's delivering speeches in English outside the Vatican, it shows how the church is adapting to be more global . The fact that Turkey has been active in conflict resolution efforts in Ukraine and Gaza is definitely worth acknowledging . But I do get why some people are skeptical about the trip - economic issues seem like a big deal for Turks right now . Still, it's all about promoting dialogue and peace, and who can argue with that?

I'm thinking about how cool it is that Pope Leo XIV is speaking English outside the Vatican! Like, it shows he's really trying to reach out to people who don't speak Italian or Latin anymore . I also love how he emphasized Turkey's role in promoting peace and stability - it's like, we need more countries taking responsibility for world problems, you know?

But at the same time, I'm a bit curious about why some people in Turkey aren't that excited about his visit... Like, don't they want to see what a high-profile American pope can do for their country? It's also interesting how he touched on women's rights - it's about time we talk more about that stuff!

I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next with Pope Leo's trip and the Vatican-Turkey relations. Maybe it'll be a good opportunity for some real change...

I'm a bit curious about why some people in Turkey aren't super stoked about Pope Leo's visit . I mean, it's not like he's here to stay or anything . Fatma Geyik's point about him just leaving like he came is kinda valid though... Maybe the real value of this trip is the relationships he builds and the conversations he starts, even if they don't lead to instant results . And honestly, I think it's awesome that Pope Leo is recognizing women's rights and supporting initiatives in Turkey - that's a step in the right direction .

I'm so hyped about Pope Leo XIV's visit to Turkey ! He's speaking truth about how crucial this country is for stability and peace in the world . I love that he emphasized the importance of dialogue and taking action for a just and lasting peace . As an American pope, it's amazing that he's breaking language barriers by speaking English outside the Vatican . I'm curious to see how this trip will impact relations between Christians and Muslims in Turkey. Some people might be skeptical, but I think Leo's message is what we need more of right now . Can't wait to hear about his visit to Istanbul!

I'm loving how Pope Leo XIV is using his platform to bring people together! He's all about that peace and stability vibes, you know? I think it's awesome that he's acknowledging Turkey's role in bridging the gap between East and West – they really do have a special place in the world when it comes to cultures colliding . And let's be real, it's about time someone spoke up for women's rights! I'm curious to see how his trip unfolds, especially with all the different groups he'll be meeting with in Istanbul

omg did u see leos speech? he's killin it on turkey's role in peace & stability! i mean, 1700 yrs of nicaea is a big deal and i love how he spoke english outside the vatican btw, can't believe he didn't mention turkey's impact on global politics more... like, they're literally brokerin' conflicts in ukraine & gaza but fatma's got a point tho ppl r strugglin w economic crisis & it's hard 4 him to make waves anywayz can't wait for his next stop in istanbul!

I think it's super interesting that Pope Leo is making a big deal about Turkey being like a bridge between East & West . I mean, it's true that Istanbul has been this major crossroads for so long, but I'm not sure if anyone really thinks the US, Vatican, or other Western countries are going to come to Turkey just because of that . Meanwhile, the economic situation in Turkey is pretty dire, and people over there have more pressing concerns than some world leader's visit . Still, I guess it's a good gesture from Pope Leo to highlight the importance of dialogue & peace . Now let's see how well-received his trip ends up being

im not sure if leos visit is gonna be a game changer or just another thing on turkeys plate . turkey seems to have more pressing issues like their economic crisis and everyday life problems for most people. it's still nice that he acknowledged the role they're playing in conflict resolution, but maybe his message wasnt tailored enough to really resonate with the average turkish citizen .

this whole thing feels so symbolic Pope Leo XIV is literally bridging gaps between different faiths & cultures - it's heartwarming to see him using his platform for good I think it's interesting that he acknowledged Turkey's role in peacemaking efforts, especially considering the complexities of international politics. some ppl might say it's a bit too late or not impactful enough but honestly i think every little bit counts & this trip could be a game-changer for interfaith relations

I think it's cool that Pope Leo XIV is tryin' to build bridges between Christians & Muslims, but I gotta wonder, what's the real motive here? I mean, Turkey's got a lot on its plate right now, with this economic crisis and all, so I'm not sure how much of an impact this visit will really have. Like Fatma said, they'll just leave as soon as they come, you know? Still, it's good that he's acknowledging the importance of women's rights and dialogue in Turkey - that's a step in the right direction, for sure! Maybe this trip is just the start of somethin' bigger...

I gotta say, I'm a bit skeptical about Pope Leo XIV's visit to Turkey right now... I mean, don't get me wrong, peace and stability are everything, but 1,700 years later, it's still all about the same issues, you know? Like, isn't there more to be done than just words on paper?

And I feel for Fatma Cicek Geyik, she has a point... sometimes things don't change as much as we'd like them to. But at the same time, it's awesome that Pope Leo is acknowledging the importance of women's rights and supporting initiatives in Turkey! That's definitely something to build on.

I'm curious to see how the rest of his trip goes, though... will there be any real change?