Pope Leo XIV’s Prayer Service in Turkey

Pope Leo XIV held a prayer service for Catholics in Turkey on Friday, underscoring the country’s significance as a “holy place” integral to early Christianity. He urged the small Catholic minority in Turkey to maintain their faith.

During parts of the service—particularly during the hymns and chants—the pope was visibly emotional.

Turkey is predominantly a Muslim country, with a staggering 99.8% of its population practicing Islam. This was shaped by severe persecutions of Christians through genocides in the 20th century. Currently, of its roughly 90 million citizens, an estimated 33,000 are Catholics. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, an Islamist leader known to support certain extremist groups, has facilitated continued persecution against local Christians and efforts to diminish Turkey’s rich Christian legacy, exemplified by the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

In his address to Turkish Catholics, Pope Leo reflected on Christianity’s profound history in Anatolia, highlighting the faith’s growth from the apostles’ journeys to the outreach by Roman Emperor Constantine.

“We admire the grand history of Byzantium, the missionary zeal of the Church of Constantinople, and the spread of Christianity across the Levant,” he stated. “Today, Turkey is home to various Eastern rite Christian communities, including Armenians, Syriacs, and Chaldeans, alongside Latin rite groups. The Ecumenical Patriarchate remains a point of reference for both Greek believers and members of other Orthodox Churches.”

“Dear friends, your communities are a result of this rich history, and today, it is your duty to nurture the faith passed down to us from Abraham, the Apostles, and Church Fathers,” he continued.

Pope Leo emphasized that one should not merely remember the past glory while resigning to the Church’s dwindling numbers. “We must embrace an evangelical vision guided by the Holy Spirit,” he remarked.

The pope noted the Church’s small size in Turkey, proclaiming, “the logic of smallness is the Church’s true strength.” He clarified that the Church’s vitality doesn’t hinge on resources, numbers, or social status but rather on the light of faith and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. “The Church in Turkey may be small, but it possesses the potency of the kingdom’s leaven,” he expressed, urging them to cultivate a hopeful, faith-driven spirit.

Interestingly, he pointed out two noteworthy aspects of Turkey’s demographics: the rising interest among youth in Christianity and the country’s large population of refugees and immigrants. Turkey currently accommodates millions fleeing conflicts from neighboring regions.

On his inaugural overseas trip as pope, he first visited Turkey to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, with plans to engage with Christians and promote peace in the Middle East. A meeting with President Erdoğan is also on the agenda, despite Erdoğan’s government escalating its intolerance towards Christians. The president described the pope’s visit as a vital step toward finding common ground.

According to Anadolu Agency, Erdoğan stated, “I believe that Turkey, along with Pope Leo XIV, sends a significant message.” He also mentioned his country’s “tradition of religious coexistence,” adding that since taking office, he has overseen the restoration of around 100 places of worship.

However, it’s crucial to remember that Turkey was founded by those responsible for modern genocides against its Christian majority—Armenians, Assyrians, and Pontians. The Turkish government officially denies these atrocities, claiming they were part of a war, during which Turks also died. Erdoğan has made the erasure of Istanbul’s Christian history a personal objective, notably converting the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque and obscuring valuable Christian art during the renovation.

In 2020, he declared, “Restoring Hagia Sophia as a mosque has been a long-held dream of mine.”

Christian humanitarian organization Open Doors ranks Turkey as 45th among the most dangerous countries for Christians. They report that Christians in Turkey often face discrimination due to their beliefs, with foreign Christians encountering barriers when entering or re-entering the country. Religious affiliation is noted on Turkish ID cards, which makes it easier to discriminate against Christians in the job market.

Even traditional Greek and Armenian Christians struggle with legal hurdles and bureaucratic obstacles in practicing their faith.