ISTANBUL

Pope Leo XIV, head of state of the Vatican, on Friday offered guidance and reflections for Christian clergy and community members, encouraging them to maintain unity, compassion and steadfastness in their spiritual mission.

At a Catholic church in Istanbul’s Harbiye neighborhood, Pope Leo XIV met bishops, priests, deacons and members of the clergy as part of his visit to Türkiye. He visited the Basilica Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (Saint Esprit Cathedral).

After presiding over a service, he highlighted the deep-rooted Christian heritage of the region.

Drawing attention to the early Christian presence in Anatolia, the pope said “the apostles of Jesus also migrated to Anatolia,” and emphasized that places such as Antioch and the ancient city of Ephesus—located within the borders of modern-day Izmir—“once hosted important figures of the Christian world.”

He stressed that Türkiye today is home to “many Christian communities from various traditions.”

Recalling the devastating earthquakes that struck Türkiye in February 2023, the pope expressed his gratitude to the international organizations that supported the Church’s relief efforts.

He extended “thanks to the international institutions that assisted the Church’s humanitarian work after the earthquakes.”

As part of his schedule in Istanbul, the pontiff will also visit the Fransiz Fakirhanesi, a French social welfare center specifically for the elderly.