On Day 2 in Türkiye, Pope Leo Reflects on Human Dignity, Faith, by Mary Stroka

By Mary Stroka, Catholic Vote, November 28, 2025

Pope Leo’s second day in Türkiye included a prayer meeting, a visit to a nursing home for the elderly, and an ecumenical prayer service commemorating the Council of Nicaea.

Prayer meeting

At the prayer meeting, which took place at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, the Pontiff delivered a homily to those gathered there, including bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, and pastoral workers, according to a bulletin from the Holy See Press Office.

Pope Leo remarked on the history of Türkiye, “a place where the story of the people of Israel meets the birth of Christianity, where the Old and New Testaments embrace, and where the pages of numerous councils were written.”

The Holy Father pointed out that not only was modern-day Türkiye once witness to part of Abraham’s journey to the Promised Land, but Jesus’ disciples also came to Anatolia, and Saint Paul ventured out from Antioch (now Antakya) on journeys during which he founded some of the first Christian communities. Pope Leo also recalled that Christ’s Beloved Apostle John may have lived and died in Ephesus, some sources suggest. In addition to being part and parcel of Byzantine history, Türkiye continues to be home to many communities of Christians. ….

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