Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Pope made a joint appeal

In Ankara, the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the head of the Catholic Church Pope Leo XIV held a joint press conference.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to the "Anadolu" agency, several key points can be highlighted from the statements of the Turkish President and the Pope.

In his speech, the Turkish leader emphasized the historical significance of this dialogue: "I am convinced that the messages coming from Turkey jointly with Pope Leo XIV will reach both the Turkish-Islamic world and Christian territories, and will strengthen hopes for peace throughout the world."

Erdogan noted the symbolic timing of the meeting: "Pope Leo XIV's visit comes at a critical moment in the context of regional and global events."

Special attention at the press conference was paid to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. "In recent days, we have been closely monitoring the activities to end the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and trying to provide the necessary support and assistance. The calls of our respected guest for peace and dialogue are extremely valuable for the success of the diplomatic process," emphasized the President of Turkey.

The Turkish leader also emphasized his country's principled position on global challenges: "In the face of conflicts, crises, and oppressions in our surroundings, we take responsibility by choosing not the easy, but the difficult path, and invest all our efforts in the cause of peace and justice."

The issue of Jerusalem was also touched upon during the negotiations: "Preserving the historical status quo in Holy Jerusalem is of great importance. I believe that we will continue to jointly oppose any aggressive actions that could damage the historical appearance of East Jerusalem."

In conclusion of his speech, Erdogan characterized the Pope's visit as "a very important step strengthening our common platform" for dialogue between different cultures and denominations.

In turn, Pope Leo XIV highly appreciated Turkey's role in the international arena: "You play an important role in both the present and future of the Mediterranean and the entire world."

The Pontiff also expressed concern about the current geopolitical situation: "After two world wars, we are witnessing a period of high-tension conflict at the global level, dominated by strategies of economic and military power."