Patriarch Affirms Christians Are Safe in Turkey
The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople stated on Friday that Turkey, a country with a Muslim majority, should not be viewed as a “hostile environment” for Christians, even though the Christian population has significantly decreased over the years.
Once seen as the cradle of Christianity and home to the Apostolic Church, Turkey is currently hosting Pope Leo XIV during his inaugural overseas trip as a pope.
In an interview with AFP, the Patriarch emphasized that Christians face no danger in Turkey.
Bartholomew I, who leads around 260 million Orthodox Christians globally, mentioned, “It’s shortsighted to assume there are opponents everywhere and to think that a papal visit would favor any side in a negative context.”
On Friday, Bartholomew plans to accompany the Pope at a significant celebration in Iznik, located roughly two hours from Istanbul. This event commemorates the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a pivotal gathering that established a central declaration of faith in Christianity.
After arriving in Ankara on Thursday and meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan—who has been criticized for his attempts to Islamize Turkish society—the pope referred to Turkey as a “crossroads of sensibilities” filled with “internal diversity.”
Bartholomew also expressed that there are distinct advantages to living in a predominantly Muslim nation.
“Being in a Muslim-majority country is actually a hidden blessing, as it allows the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s essential attributes—open and honest dialogue with all individuals, regardless of their background or beliefs—to flourish,” he stated.
Turkey’s population stands at about 86 million, yet only approximately 100,000 identify as Christians.
The significant decline in the Christian demographic can be traced back to the Armenian genocide during the Ottoman Empire and later population exchanges and pogroms, which caused many Greek Orthodox Christians to leave in the early 20th century.
Under the rule of Islamist President Erdogan, the Turkish government has actively marginalized Christian minority groups and attempted to erase the nation’s Christian legacy.
A prominent example of this was in 2020 when Hagia Sophia, a vital piece of Byzantine Christian architecture, was transformed into a mosque. This renovation process saw the removal or covering up of important Christian artworks within the historic cathedral.
