Text

... o o ...

Ö

Speech by the Pope:

"We are currently experiencing a period in which economic and military power strategies dominate and conflicts are increasing on a global scale."

This situation, as Pope Francis put it:

A fragmented World War III is possible. We must never give in to this. The future of humanity is at stake. The energy and resources that this destructive dynamic consumes are precisely what the real challenges facing the human family today are: peace, the fight against hunger and poverty, education, and the protection of creation.

May Turkey, in the service of a just and lasting peace, be a source of stability and rapprochement between peoples.

Then Erdogan steps up to the exact same lectern, looks directly into the Pope's eyes, and says:

Over the past 13.5 years, we have extended hospitality to more than 3 million Syrian brothers and sisters.

Just as in Syria, we have also opened our doors to people fleeing the war in Ukraine, especially the children affected by the conflict. From the Black Sea Grain Agreement to prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of bodies, we have taken many steps to bring the conflicting parties to the negotiating table. In recent days, we have been closely monitoring efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and are trying to provide the necessary support and assistance.

At the heart of the lasting climate of peace in our region, however, lies the Palestinian question. In the attacks that have lasted for more than two years, over 70,000 people have been killed, most of them children and women. For months, the Israeli government has been bombing civilian settlements, including churches, mosques, hospitals, and schools. One of the places of worship hit by the Israelis was the Church of the Holy Family, the only Catholic church in Gaza. As the human family, we owe the Palestinian people justice above all else. The way to repay this debt is through the swiftest possible implementation of a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders.

To achieve this, the ceasefire in Gaza must first be consolidated, the safety of the civilian population guaranteed, and humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza without interruption. Equally important is protecting the historical status quo in Jerusalem. I firmly believe that together we will counter all acts of aggression that could harm the historical identity of East Jerusalem.

~~~~ end of Erdogan's speech~~~~

Pope Leo's speech, Part 2:

dThe four papal visits to Turkey demonstrate that the Holy See not only maintains good relations with the Republic of Turkey, but also seeks to build a better world together with the contributions of this country, which is a bridge between East and West, between Asia and Europe, and where cultures and religions meet.

This visit is no ordinary state visit; it coincides exactly with the seventeen hundredth anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, which took place in present-day Isnik, the foundation of Christian doctrine.