The Vatican’s recent announcement that Pope Leo will make his first overseas visit to Türkiye has drawn both religious and political attention worldwide. Though officially described as a pilgrimage rather than a diplomatic mission, the visit is expected to have profound implications for relations between the Christian and Muslim worlds, for Türkiye’s regional standing, and for the long-standing question of minority rights across the Eastern Mediterranean.
A Will Honored: Pope Francis’ Final Wish
According to Vatican sources, Pope Leo’s decision to visit Türkiye stems from the late Pope Francis’ will, in which he expressed a desire to travel to the country to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Council of İznik—known in the Christian world as the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. Pope Francis reportedly wrote that if he could not undertake the pilgrimage himself, his successor should “make the journey of unity and peace” in his stead.
Thus, the new pontiff’s first foreign destination will not be a European capital or Latin American shrine, but İznik—the historic city of Nicaea, located near Bursa in northwestern Türkiye. For the Catholic Church, this gesture carries enormous spiritual weight, while for Türkiye it represents a unique opportunity to reaffirm its role as a bridge between civilizations.
The Council of İznik: The Birth of Christian Orthodoxy
The Council of İznik, convened in 325 AD by Emperor Constantine the Great, was the first ecumenical council in Christian history. It brought together bishops from across the Roman Empire to settle theological disputes threatening the unity of the early Church.
Most notably, the council produced the Nicene Creed, a declaration of faith that established the core doctrines of Christianity—including the belief in the Trinity and the divine nature of Jesus Christ. The gathering was also significant for defining canonical rules and for its decisions on the calculation of Easter, among other matters.
The council’s outcomes effectively shaped the foundations of Christian orthodoxy, marking İznik as one of the most sacred sites in Christendom. Today, the ruins of the ancient St. Sophia of Nicaea Church stand as a silent witness to that defining moment in religious history. For the Vatican, returning to İznik seven centuries after the council is both a tribute to its enduring legacy and a symbol of Christian unity.
Religious Diplomacy in the Heart of Türkiye
Pope Leo’s itinerary, though not yet finalized, is expected to include visits to Ankara and İstanbul, where he will meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as well as the spiritual leaders of Türkiye’s various Christian denominations—including the Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Syriac Orthodox, and Chaldean Catholic patriarchs.
Among these encounters, however, the most symbolically charged will undoubtedly be his meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Fener Patriarchate in İstanbul.
The two men—the heads of the Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches—represent branches of Christianity that have been divided since the Great Schism of 1054. A meeting in Türkiye, where both faiths once flourished side by side for centuries, carries the promise of renewed dialogue.
For the Vatican, such engagement continues the spirit of reconciliation initiated by Pope Paul VI’s meeting with Patriarch Athenagoras in 1964. For Türkiye, hosting this encounter reinforces its image as a tolerant, pluralist country that respects all faiths and traditions.
The Washington Connection: Erdoğan, Trump, and the Heybeliada Seminary
Pope Leo’s upcoming visit also coincides with renewed international discussion of one of the most enduring religious issues in Türkiye—the Heybeliada (Halki) Seminary.
During President Erdoğan’s recent visit to Washington, President Donald Trump brought up the subject after being approached by Patriarch Bartholomew and senior representatives of the Greek Orthodox Church, who had visited the White House days earlier. The Patriarch reportedly asked President Trump to convey to President Erdoğan the plea that Türkiye reopen the seminary, which has been closed for decades.
Located on Heybeliada (Halki) Island in the Sea of Marmara, the seminary was founded in 1844 within the Monastery of the Holy Trinity. For more than a century, it served as the principal theological school of the Patriarchate, training generations of Orthodox clergy from across the world.
However, in 1971, a Turkish constitutional court ruling requiring all higher education institutions to be affiliated with the state led to the closure of private religious schools, including Heybeliada. Since then, the Patriarchate has repeatedly petitioned for its reopening, arguing that without it, the Orthodox Church faces a shortage of trained clergy.
Türkiye, for its part, has tied the issue to a broader question of reciprocity—namely, the treatment of the Turkish Muslim minority in Greece. Turkish officials have stated that they are open to discussing the reopening of the seminary if Athens takes meaningful steps to improve conditions for Muslims in Western Thrace and respects their rights under the Lausanne Treaty.
During the Washington meeting, President Erdoğan responded favorably, promising to “look into the matter carefully” and to “discuss it directly with Patriarch Bartholomew” upon his return to Türkiye.
Given this background, it would be reasonable to expect that Pope Leo will also raise the issue during his talks in Ankara and İstanbul. His intervention could lend moral weight to ongoing negotiations, especially if framed as a gesture toward broader interfaith reconciliation.
Christian Minorities in Türkiye and Syria
Beyond the seminary, the new pope is expected to address the status of Christian minorities in Türkiye and, perhaps more urgently, in Syria.
Türkiye is home to some of the world’s oldest Christian communities—Armenians, Syriacs, Chaldeans, and Greek Orthodox—many of whom have lived continuously on Anatolian soil since the early centuries of the faith. While their numbers have declined over time, the Turkish state in recent years has sought to improve their status through property restitution, restoration of churches and monasteries, and expanded cultural freedoms.
Nevertheless, the Vatican and Orthodox circles remain concerned about the fate of Christians in war-torn Syria, where years of conflict have devastated ancient communities. Pope Leo’s message is expected to be one of compassion and protection—urging Türkiye, as the region’s most stable and influential Muslim-majority nation, to play a leading role in safeguarding these populations.
Ankara, in turn, is likely to emphasize that its humanitarian policies already extend across religious lines. Turkish officials will point to the country’s acceptance of millions of Syrian refugees regardless of faith, and its reconstruction efforts in northern Syria that include rebuilding churches and schools.
This presents an opportunity for Türkiye to highlight its commitment not only to its own Christian citizens but also to the broader Christian presence in the Middle East, positioning itself as a responsible regional power that protects diversity rather than suppresses it.
The Reciprocal Question: Muslims in Greece
Yet, as in past dialogues with the Vatican and the Orthodox Church, Türkiye is expected to raise a reciprocal concern: the treatment of the Turkish Muslim minority in Greece, particularly in Western Thrace.
Ankara argues that while it continues to safeguard the rights of its Christian minorities, Greece has failed to reciprocate. The estimated 120,000-300.000 (various figures are given by Greece and Türkiye) strong Muslim community in Western Thrace faces limitations on religious leadership, education, and property management.
Greek authorities refuse to recognize them as an ethnic “Turkish minority,” labeling them instead as “Greek Muslims.” This, Türkiye contends, denies the community’s cultural identity and violates international norms.
Furthermore, the election of religious leaders (muftis) is restricted, with the Greek state appointing officials instead of allowing communities to choose their own representatives. Muslim foundations have faced property confiscations and financial restrictions, and Turkish-language education remains limited beyond primary school.
Türkiye’s position is that genuine interfaith fairness must be mutual. If the West expects Türkiye to reopen the Heybeliada Seminary and ensure broader rights for Christian institutions, then Greece should likewise expand freedoms for its Muslim citizens.
During his meetings with Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew, President Erdoğan is expected to urge them to use their moral influence to encourage Athens toward greater tolerance and equality.
Balancing Faith and Diplomacy
This dynamic reflects a delicate balancing act between faith, politics, and diplomacy. Türkiye, long portrayed in Western media as a secular yet predominantly Muslim state, could use this opportunity to project a new image—one of inclusive nationalism and intercultural coexistence.
The papal visit offers Ankara a rare chance to display this modern identity on a global stage. By welcoming the Pope and the Orthodox Patriarch (maybe together, maybe at another date) Türkiye underscores its historical role as the meeting point of Christianity and Islam.
For the Vatican, meanwhile, the journey symbolizes continuity with Pope Francis’ legacy—a reaffirmation of the Church’s commitment to dialogue, peace, and reconciliation. Pope Leo’s presence in İznik, the cradle of Christian orthodoxy, will be a powerful reminder that the roots of Christianity run deep in the lands of present-day Türkiye.
A Shared Future: Turning History Into Opportunity
Ultimately, Pope Leo’s visit to Türkiye represents more than a symbolic act of devotion. It carries the potential to reshape interreligious and interstate relations across the region.
If approached constructively, this occasion could advance several interconnected goals:
- The reopening of the Heybeliada Seminary, resolving one of the oldest disputes between Ankara and the Patriarchate;
- A renewed commitment to protect Christian minorities in Türkiye and Syria;
- The recognition of Muslim minority rights in Greece on equal terms;
- And a strengthened dialogue between the Vatican, the Orthodox Church, and the Turkish state.
Such outcomes would not only heal old wounds but also establish a foundation for cooperation between the Christian and Muslim worlds, a much-needed development at a time of rising polarization.
A Golden Opportunity
As preparations will start, optimism will cautiously build in diplomatic circles that this visit could serve as a golden opportunity—a moment to mend divides that have lingered for centuries.
Türkiye, the Vatican, and the Orthodox Church all stand to gain from a successful encounter: the Vatican by reaffirming its universal mission; the Patriarchate by securing tangible progress for Orthodox institutions; and Türkiye by demonstrating that its secular republic can harmonize faith and governance in a spirit of equality, not to mention securing the rights of the Turkish minority in Greece.
If all sides come well prepared, Pope Leo’s journey to İznik and Türkiye could echo through history as more than a tribute to the past—it could mark the beginning of a new era of mutual respect and coexistence between nations and faiths that share more in common than they often realize.
