La Visite de Pape Léon XIV en Turquie

 

Introduction

Né Robert Francis Prevost à Chicago, dans l'Illinois, en 1955, le pape Léon XIV est un ecclésiastique catholique américain qui a été élu pape par le conclave au Vatican le 8 mai 2025, à la suite du décès du pape François. Issu d'une famille originaire de pays catholiques européens (France, Italie, Espagne) et s'étant tourné vers la religion dès son plus jeune âge pour mener une vie catholique exemplaire, Léon a d'abord étudié dans un séminaire affilié à l'ordre de Saint-Augustin, puis a étudié les mathématiques et la philosophie à l'université Villanova en Pennsylvanie. Après avoir obtenu son diplôme à la Catholic Theological Union de Chicago, Léon XIV est venu à Rome à l'âge de 27 ans pour étudier le droit canonique à l'université pontificale Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin. Après avoir obtenu son diplôme, il a travaillé pour les Augustins au début de sa carrière, puis a gravi les échelons en occupant pendant de nombreuses années des fonctions religieuses et diplomatiques au Pérou. Leo a été nommé cardinal en 2023 par le précédent pape argentin François, lui ouvrant la voie pour devenir pape. Suite au décès inattendu du pape François le 21 avril, un conclave papal s'est tenu au Vatican les 7 et 8 mai. Leo, dont la position avait été renforcée par la nomination par le pape François au poste de préfet de la Congrégation pour les évêques avant ce processus, a été élu malgré le fait qu'il ne se soit pas présenté comme le candidat favori, devenant ainsi le nouveau président de l'État du Vatican (Saint-Siège) et évêque de Rome (pape). Leo, qui est entré dans l'histoire comme le « premier pape américain », possède également la nationalité péruvienne.

Léon XIV

Léon XIV : un nouveau pape

Après l'élection du pape, tous les regards se sont tournés vers Léon, qui est devenu une figure très attendue en raison de sa position politique, à la suite des déclarations inhabituellement libérales du pape François. Cependant, les recherches sur ce sujet ont souligné que, comme tous les membres du clergé catholique, le nouveau pape est opposé à l'avortement, à l'euthanasie, au mariage homosexuel et à la peine de mort, mais qu'au-delà de cela, il n'a pas de position particulièrement rigide et a même réussi à obtenir le soutien des groupes progressistes et conservateurs au sein du Vatican. Un examen de son compte Twitter (X) révèle que, contrairement au président américain Donald Trump, Leo est sensible à la question du changement climatique et s'oppose en outre aux attitudes sévères envers les immigrants et les migrations.

Le nouveau pape, qui a choisi le nom « Léon » en référence à Léon XIII, initiateur de la « doctrine sociale moderne » de l'Église, a été élu avec le soutien du pape François et a brisé les tabous en devenant le premier pape américain. Léon, qui était censé s'exprimer sur les récents massacres inimaginables à Gaza, a délivré des messages de principe sans critiquer directement les parties impliquées, déclarant qu'« un avenir fondé sur la violence, les migrations forcées et la vengeance ne peut être construit ». À la suite de l'attaque israélienne contre une église catholique à Gaza, le pape a rempli son devoir en défendant les droits des catholiques et en dénonçant cette attaque comme « barbare ». Tout en envoyant un message de « paix » à Israël et au Hezbollah, le pape a néanmoins adopté une position de principe sur l'antisémitisme et s'est distancié des déclarations à ce sujet. Dans ce contexte, Léon semble actuellement un pape progressiste, tout comme François. En effet, le Dr. Canan Tercan, universitaire menant des recherches postdoctorales à l'université Sapienza de Rome sur « le Vatican, les communautés catholiques et leurs interactions avec les partis de droite en Europe », décrit le nouveau pape comme « modéré et moderniste ».

Relations entre la Turquie et le Vatican : bref résumé

Les relations entre la Turquie et le Vatican, qui ont débuté avec la présence d'un représentant permanent de la papauté à Istanbul dès l'époque du sultan ottoman Mehmed le Conquérant, qui a conquis la ville, sont restées largement ambiguës jusqu'en 1962. Cela s'explique par le fait que les deux États représentaient historiquement et traditionnellement des civilisations différentes (l'islam contre le christianisme) et que le Vatican, en raison de son statut particulier, était un État théocratique fondé uniquement sur la représentation d'une seule religion et confession. En effet, malgré le fait que la quasi-totalité de sa population soit musulmane, la République de Turquie, qui est passée à un régime laïc en 1928 (date à laquelle la phrase « la religion officielle est l'islam » a été supprimée de la constitution) et l'a inscrit dans toutes ses constitutions à partir de 1937, n'était pas très enthousiaste au départ à l'idée d'entretenir des relations avec la papauté en raison de la rivalité historique et de la sensibilité de la population musulmane.

« Le pape turc » Roncalli

La personne qui a changé le cours des relations était XXIII. Ioannes, également connu sous le nom de « pape turc », ou Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli de son vrai nom. Le pape italien avait bien appris le turc, en partie grâce à ses nombreuses années de service à Istanbul, et avait toujours été une personne qui aimait les Turcs. Roncalli, qui était un grand fan au point d'assister aux matchs du Beşiktaş et qui avait noué des relations étroites avec les catholiques de Polonezköy, fut élu pape en 1958-1963, ce qui permit une avancée majeure dans les relations entre le Vatican et la Turquie. Rinaldo Marmara, expert en la matière, a déclaré ce qui suit dans son ouvrage Vers des relations entre la Turquie et le Vatican à la lumière des archives secrètes du Vatican : « Il ne fait aucun doute que l'architecte de ces relations était Monsieur Roncalli, qui résidait à Istanbul en tant que nonce apostolique. Roncalli, qui a forgé des liens de fraternité et d'amitié entre deux mondes, a ensuite été élu pape Jean XXIII, et les relations amicales entre la Turquie et le Vatican se sont transformées en relations diplomatiques à part entière. » En effet, pendant le mandat de Roncalli, notre troisième président, Celal Bayar, s'est rendu au Vatican en 1959, et les relations diplomatiques officielles entre les deux États ont été établies le 11 avril 1960. Selon le ministère des Affaires étrangères de la République de Turquie, des ambassades ont été ouvertes dans les deux pays à la suite de cet événement, et notre ambassade au Vatican est devenue opérationnelle en 1962.

Le pape Paul VI en prière à Sainte-Sophie

La première visite officielle d'un pape en Turquie a été effectuée par le pape Paul VI en 1967. Bien que la visite de Paul ait suscité un vif émoi en Turquie et dans le monde chrétien, le fait que le pape se soit agenouillé en prière à Sainte-Sophie, qui était encore un musée à l'époque, n'a pas été bien accueilli par les milieux de droite et a suscité certaines réactions. Derrière la visite du pape Paul VI en Turquie se cachaient des efforts visant à détendre les relations entre les Églises catholique et orthodoxe. En effet, avant cette visite, les décisions d'excommunication mutuelle prises en 1054 à la suite de la scission officielle entre les deux Églises, représentant les chrétiens occidentaux et orientaux, avaient été levées en 1964. Les efforts du patriarche Athénagoras de Constantinople pour renforcer le dialogue interconfessionnel, en invitant le pape en Turquie, ont également porté leurs fruits.

Le pape Jean-Paul II et Ağca

Plus tard, la deuxième visite officielle fut effectuée par le pape polonais Jean-Paul II en 1979. À son arrivée en Turquie, Jean-Paul II, qui considérait Istanbul comme le berceau du christianisme, embrassa le sol dès qu'il descendit de l'avion à l'aéroport. Il entra également dans l'histoire en tant que premier pape à se rendre à Ankara. De plus, le voyage du pape Jean-Paul II en Turquie a été organisé pour coïncider avec la fête de Saint-André, le 30 novembre, considérée comme le jour de la fondation du patriarcat grec orthodoxe de Constantinople. Cependant, avant cette visite, Mehmet Ali Ağca, un activiste nationaliste qui avait menacé de tuer le pape, a effectivement tenté de l'assassiner au Vatican, environ un an et demi après celle-ci, le blessant gravement par balle. Le pape, qui a survécu à l'incident, a ensuite rendu visite à Ağca en prison et a annoncé qu'il lui avait pardonné après lui avoir parlé.

Un pape à Sultanahmet : Benoît XVI

La troisième visite officielle du Vatican en Turquie a été effectuée par Benoît XVI en 2006. Le fait que cette visite ait eu lieu 27 ans plus tard est directement lié à la crise provoquée par l'affaire Ağca. Au cours de sa visite, qui comprenait à la fois Istanbul et Ankara, Benoît XVI a également assisté à la fête de Saint-André le 30 novembre et visité la mosquée Sultanahmet (Mosquée bleue). La visite de Benoît XVI était également très importante car, avant celle-ci, certaines déclarations du pape avaient été interprétées comme « anti-islamiques » et, sous l'influence des réactions à la guerre en Irak, les sentiments anti-chrétiens parmi les fanatiques musulmans en Turquie et au Moyen-Orient avaient commencé à se renforcer. La visite du pape a toutefois apaisé ces réactions et Benoît XVI, expliquant que ses propos avaient été « mal compris », a réussi à adoucir les relations.

Pape François en Turquie (2014)

La quatrième et dernière visite a été effectuée par le pape François du 28 au 30 novembre 2014. François, qui connaissait alors quelques problèmes avec la Turquie, notamment en raison de l'approche du 100e anniversaire des allégations de génocide arménien de 1915, et pendant laquelle l'ambassadeur turc Mehmet Paçacı a même été rappelé à Ankara en raison de la crise. Il a réussi à rétablir les relations bilatérales et à nouer une bonne entente avec le président Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, en partie grâce à la position humanitaire de ce dernier, qui respecte les personnes de toutes confessions. En effet, à la suite de cette visite, notre président s'est également rendu au Vatican le 5 février 2018, et cette visite a également été très fructueuse. Erdoğan, deuxième président turc à se rendre au Vatican après Celal Bayar, a ainsi renforcé le prestige de la Turquie dans le monde occidental en présentant une vision d'homme d'État pacifique et respectueux malgré sa personnalité de musulman pratiquant, décevant ceux qui voulaient voir la Turquie s'engager sur la voie de l'islamisme radical.

La famille Erdoğan et la délégation turque au Vatican

Dans ce contexte, la visite du pape Léon XIV n'était pas un événement diplomatique courant en Turquie, et il est tout à fait naturel que cette visite soit considérée dans l'optique de l'histoire diplomatique et du dialogue interculturel. Comme les précédentes visites officielles du Vatican, celle de Léon XIV a été programmée pour coïncider avec un moment historique et a été organisée pour marquer le 1700e anniversaire du premier concile de Nicée (İznik), où Jésus-Christ a été déclaré « divin ». Au cours de cette visite, prévue du 27 au 30 novembre, le chef de l'État du Vatican et chef spirituel des catholiques chrétiens s'est rendu à Anıtkabir, lieu de repos éternel de Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, et a rencontré le président Erdoğan ainsi que Safi Arpaguş, président des affaires religieuses.

Le pape Léon au mausolée d'Atatürk (Anıtkabir)

Visite du pape Léon : symboles et messages

Lors de sa visite à Anıtkabir (le mausolée d'Atatürk en Ankara), le pape Léon a écrit dans le livre d'or : « Je remercie Dieu de pouvoir visiter la Turquie, et je souhaite à ce pays et à son peuple paix et prospérité. » Il a particulièrement insisté sur les messages concernant la famille, louant les Turcs pour leur dévouement à cette cause. L'importance accordée par le pape à la famille a pris une portée encore plus grande lorsque l'on considère l'attaque israélienne contre l'église de la Sainte Famille à Gaza. Léon, qui a été accueilli par une somptueuse cérémonie diplomatique au complexe présidentiel de la capitale Ankara, s'est efforcé de transmettre des messages de paix après la réunion. Le président Erdoğan a d'ailleurs adressé des messages similaires, contribuant ainsi au dialogue et à l'amitié entre musulmans et chrétiens.

S'exprimant en premier lors de la conférence de presse, le président Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a déclaré : « Nous sommes un pays inspiré par l'aigle seldjoukide à deux têtes, tourné à la fois vers l'Orient et vers l'Occident. Depuis mille ans, des personnes de toutes races, religions, sectes et origines vivent librement sur cette terre, notre patrie, sans crainte ni oppression. Lorsque vous visitez Istanbul, Hatay, Mardin, Diyarbakır et bien d'autres de nos villes, vous voyez des églises et des synagogues côtoyer des mosquées. Depuis notre arrivée au pouvoir en 2002, nous avons achevé la restauration de près de 100 églises et lieux de culte. Les appels à la paix de notre invité sont extrêmement précieux. La paix pour tous, la tranquillité pour tous... » Exprimant sa satisfaction d'accueillir le pape, le président turc a également jugé très positive la première visite étrangère du pape en Turquie. Erdoğan a également déclaré vouloir renforcer davantage les relations entre la Turquie et le Vatican. Erdoğan a également déclaré avoir protégé le patrimoine non musulman (chrétien) en Turquie pendant son mandat, en résumant ses actions à cet égard (restauration d'églises, etc.) et en affirmant qu'aucune discrimination n'était exercée à l'encontre de quiconque en Turquie, en particulier les chrétiens. Le président Erdoğan a également évoqué le projet « Alliance des civilisations », codirigé par l'Espagne et la Turquie, et en a souligné l'importance. Erdoğan a mis en avant les efforts d'aide humanitaire de la Turquie dans diverses crises, en particulier la guerre civile syrienne, et a souligné qu'ils travaillaient activement à mettre fin à tous les conflits, notamment à la guerre en cours entre la Russie et l'Ukraine. Enfin, le président turc a évoqué la tragédie humanitaire majeure qui se déroule à Gaza, saluant les efforts du pape à cet égard et critiquant Israël.

Après le président Erdoğan, le pape Léon XIV est monté sur scène et a exprimé sa satisfaction d'avoir été bien accueilli en Turquie, soulignant que la beauté du pays venait de Dieu. Soulignant l'importance de la Turquie dans la politique mondiale, le nouveau pape a déclaré que la Turquie, qui relie l'Asie à l'Europe et l'Orient à l'Occident, est un pays très important pour l'humanité tout entière. Notant que le pluralisme et le respect des différences sont nécessaires dans un tel pays, Léon a critiqué les mouvements extrémistes et la polarisation dans la politique mondiale, affirmant que les chrétiens ne veulent pas cela et souhaitent le meilleur à la Turquie. Dans son discours, le pape Léon a également mentionné Roncalli, connu comme le « pape turc », et a transmis certaines des opinions du pape Jean XXIII, qui a servi en Turquie et en Grèce dans un passé récent, sur les interactions entre les deux civilisations et les deux États. Dans son discours, le pape a également évoqué les opprimés et déclaré que les gens ne devaient pas rester indifférents à leur souffrance. Le chef spirituel des catholiques, qui utilise souvent la métaphore du « pont » lorsqu'il fait référence à la Turquie, a particulièrement insisté sur les concepts de « justice » et de « miséricorde ». Le pape a également défendu la liberté religieuse des personnes de toutes confessions, soulignant que « nous sommes tous enfants de Dieu ». Le pape, qui a également déclaré que les révolutions technologiques ne devaient pas entraîner d'inégalités entre les personnes et les sociétés, a brièvement abordé l'intelligence artificielle dans son discours. Comparant l'humanité à une « grande famille », Léon XIV a salué l'attitude des Turcs à l'égard de celle-ci. Au contraire, le pape a suggéré des relations plus personnelles et émotionnelles entre les gens et a souligné la nécessité de la tolérance. Le pape a également défendu les libertés des femmes, déclarant qu'il considérait leur participation active à la vie comme nécessaire. Le pape a conclu son discours en souhaitant la stabilité en Turquie et la paix et la prospérité pour le monde entier.

Le logo de la visite du pape en Turquie

Conclusion

En conclusion, la visite du pape Léon XIV en Turquie a été couronnée de succès, et cette cinquième visite officielle du Vatican a été marquée par plusieurs moments historiques. L'accueil chaleureux réservé au pape en Turquie est extrêmement bénéfique pour les relations entre musulmans et chrétiens. Cependant, le Vatican, petit État spirituel, n'est sans aucun doute pas un État qui se trouve au premier plan des calculs politiques froids d'aujourd'hui. En ce sens, la visite est plus efficace, plus précieuse et plus importante d'un point de vue spirituel et symbolique. Le fait que le pape ait évité les mots susceptibles d’être mal interprétés et perçus comme visant un État quelconque témoigne de son attention et de son soin extrêmes à cet égard. En ce sens, le pape américain a cherché à montrer qu'il ne visait aucun État et qu'il n'utilisait pas la papauté comme outil politique. Le discours prudent et magnifique du président Erdoğan lors de la visite a également été une source importante de prestige pour sa carrière politique et pour l'image de la Turquie. Par conséquent, ceux qui ont planifié cette visite réussie méritent sans aucun doute des félicitations.

Prof. Dr. Ozan ÖRMECİ

Interview with Professor Mark Meirowitz: Turkish-American Relations in the New Term

 

Dr. Mark Meirowitz is a Professor of Humanities at SUNY Maritime College in New York. He is an expert in Turkish Foreign Policy and U.S.-Turkish relations. Dr. Meirowitz has lectured and written extensively on these (and related) subjects. He frequently appears in U.S. and Turkish media to analyse these issues, as well as other issues related to American foreign policy and International Relations. Dr. Meirowitz has been a panellist and moderator at numerous academic conferences and panels, including IEPAS 2021, where he presented a keynote speech on “American Foreign Policy: Turkish-American Relations After Afghanistan”, the Turkey Focus Group of the National Defense University/Institute of National Security Studies, at the annual conferences of the Transatlantic Studies Association and at many other venues. He organised the international conference at SUNY Maritime College to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli/Canakkale Campaign. Previously, he completed the SUNY Levin Fellowship, during which he taught English conversation to Turkish Faculty while in residence at Istanbul Technical University. Dr. Meirowitz teaches a wide variety of courses at SUNY Maritime College, including American Foreign Policy, American History, and Constitutional Law. He is also a lawyer.

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sözen Söyleşisi: Kıbrıs'ta Yeni Dönem

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sözen, Kuzey Kıbrıs'taki (KKTC) Doğu Akdeniz Üniversitesi'nde Siyaset Bilimi ve Uluslararası İlişkiler Profesörüdür. Kıbrıs Politikaları Merkezi'nin kurucu direktörüdür. Kıbrıs toplumlararası barış müzakereleri üzerine yaptığı doktora tezi saha çalışması sırasında, Uluslararası Rotary Vakfı tarafından dünya çapında düzenlenen bir yarışmada, 1997 Uluslararası Çatışma Çözümü alanında verilen 50 Paul Harris Büyükelçilik Barış Bursu'ndan birine layık görülmüştür. Üniversite çalışmalarının yanı sıra, UNDP tarafından finanse edilen ve ilk olarak Interpeace çatısı altında faaliyet gösteren ve daha sonra ilk toplumlararası düşünce kuruluşu olan SeeD - Sürdürülebilir Barış ve Demokratik Kalkınma Merkezi'ne dönüşen Kıbrıs 2015 programının kurucu Kıbrıslı Türk Eş Direktörü olarak görev yapmıştır. Ek olarak, Sözen, SeeD'nin Araştırma Direktörü olarak da görev yapmıştır. Aynı zamanda politika ve savunuculuk alanlarında da aktiftir. Son 20 yıldır barış aktivisti olarak edindiği deneyimler arasında barış inşası ve demokratikleşme süreçleri, BM öncülüğündeki Kıbrıs'taki resmi barış müzakerelerinde resmi Kıbrıs Türk müzakere ekibinde yer alma, ikinci kanal barış ve demokratikleşme girişimlerinde aktif rol alma, çatışma çözümü, arabuluculuk ve barış inşası eğitimleri ve politika önerileri hazırlama yer almaktadır. Kıbrıs çatışması, barış süreçleri ve Türk dış politikası üzerine çok sayıda yayın yapmış ve çatışma çözümü (iki TED konuşması da dahil olmak üzere), Kıbrıs çatışması ve Türk dış politikası konularında çeşitli ülkelerde onlarca davetli konuşma yapmıştır. Yerel ve Türk medyasının yanı sıra, El Cezire, Euronews ve BBC gibi uluslararası medya kuruluşlarında sık sık yer almakta ve dünya olaylarını yorumlamaktadır.

Pope Leo XIV's Visit to Türkiye

 

Introduction

Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, Illinois in 1955, Pope Leo XIV is an American Catholic clergyman who was elected as the new Pope by the conclave in the Vatican on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis. With family roots in Catholic European countries (France, Italy, Spain) and having turned to religion from a young age to lead a good Catholic life, Leo first studied at a seminary affiliated with the Order of Saint Augustine, then studied mathematics and philosophy at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. After graduating from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Leo XIV came to Rome at the age of 27 to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. After graduating, he worked for the Augustinians early in his career, then rose through the ranks by serving in religious and diplomatic roles in Peru for many years. Leo was made a cardinal in 2023 by the previous Argentine Pope Francis, paving the way for him to become pope. Following the unexpected death of Pope Francis on April 21, a papal conclave was held in the Vatican on May 7-8. Leo, whose position had been strengthened by Pope Francis' appointment of him as Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops prior to this process, was elected despite not entering the race as the favorite candidate, becoming the new Vatican (Holy See) State President and Bishop of Rome (Pope). Leo, who went down in history as the “first American Pope”, also holds Peruvian citizenship.

Leo XIV

Leo XIV: A New Pope 

After the election of the Pope, all eyes turned to Leo, who became a highly anticipated figure regarding his political stance following the previous Pope Francis' unusually liberal statements. However, research on this subject has emphasized that, like all Catholic clergy, the new Pope is opposed to abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, and the death penalty, but beyond that, he does not have a particularly rigid stance and has even been able to gain support from both progressive and conservative groups within the Vatican. An examination of his Twitter (X) account reveals that, unlike U.S. (United States) President Donald Trump, Leo is sensitive to the issue of climate change and, moreover, opposes harsh attitudes towards immigrants and migration.

The new Pope, who chose the name “Leo” in reference to Leo XIII, who initiated the Church's “modern social doctrine”, was elected with the support of Pope Francis and broke taboos as the first American Pope. Leo, who was expected to speak out on the recent unimaginable massacres in Gaza, delivered principled messages without directly criticizing the parties involved, stating that “a future based on violence, forced migration, and revenge cannot be built”. Following Israel's attack on a Catholic church in Gaza, the Pope fulfilled his duty by defending Catholic rights and denounced the attack as “barbaric”. While sending a message of “peace” to Israel and Hezbollah, the Pope nevertheless took a principled stance on anti-Semitism and distanced himself from statements in this regard. In this context, Leo currently appears to be a progressive Pope, much like Francis. Indeed, Dr. Canan Tercan, an academic conducting post-doctoral research at Rome's Sapienza University on “the Vatican, Catholic communities, and their interactions with right-wing parties in Europe”, describes the new Pope as “moderate and modernist”.

Türkiye-Vatican Relations: A Brief Summary

Türkiye-Vatican relations, which began with the Papacy maintaining a permanent representative in Istanbul starting from the era of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, who conquered Istanbul, remained largely ambiguous until 1962. This was due to the fact that the two states historically/traditionally represented different civilizations (Islam vs. Christianity) and that the Vatican, because of its special status, was a theocratic state based solely on the representation of a single religion and denomination. Indeed, despite the fact that almost all of its population is Muslim, the Republic of Türkiye (Turkey), which transitioned to a secular regime in 1928 (the date on which the phrase “the official religion is Islam” was removed from the constitution) and enshrined this in all its constitutions from 1937 onwards, was not very enthusiastic about relations with the Papacy at first due to historical rivalry and the sensitivities of the Muslim population.

"Turkish Pope" Roncalli

The person who changed the course of relations was XXIII. Ioannes, also known as the “Turkish Pope”, or Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli by his real name. The Italian Pope had learned Turkish well, partly due to his many years of service in Istanbul, and had always been a person who loved the Turks. Roncalli, who was such a big fan that he would go to Beşiktaş matches and who established close relations with the Catholics in Polonezköy, was elected Pope in 1958-1963, making it possible for a major breakthrough in Vatican-Türkiye relations. Rinaldo Marmara, an expert on the subject, stated the following in his work Towards Relations between Turkey and the Vatican in Light of the Vatican Secret Archives: "There is no doubt that the architect of these relations was Monsieur Roncalli, who resided in Istanbul as the Papal Nuncio. Roncalli, who forged bonds of brotherhood and friendship between two worlds, was later elected Pope John XXIII, and the friendly relations between Turkey and the Vatican turned into full diplomatic relations." Indeed, during Roncalli's tenure, our third President, Celal Bayar, visited the Vatican in 1959, and official diplomatic relations between the two states were established on April 11, 1960. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, embassies were opened in both countries following this event, and our Embassy to the Vatican became operational in 1962.

Pope Paul VI praying at Hagia Sophia

The first official papal visit to Türkiye was made by Pope Paul VI in 1967. Although Paul's visit caused a great stir in Türkiye and the Christian world, the Pope's kneeling in prayer at Hagia Sophia, which was still a museum at the time, was not well received by right-wing circles in Türkiye and caused some reactions. Behind the scenes of Pope Paul VI's visit to Türkiye lay efforts to thaw relations between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Indeed, prior to this visit, the mutual excommunication decisions taken in 1054 following the official split between the two churches representing Western and Eastern Christians were lifted in 1964. The efforts of Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople to strengthen inter-church dialogue by inviting the Pope to Türkiye were also effective.

Pope John Paul II and Ağca

Later, the second official visit was made by Polish Pope John Paul II in 1979. Upon arriving in Türkiye, John Paul, who viewed Istanbul as the cradle of Christianity, kissed the ground as soon as he stepped off the plane at the airport. He also made history as the first Pope to visit Ankara. Furthermore, Pope John Paul II's trip to Türkiye was arranged to coincide with the Feast of Saint Andrew on November 30, which is considered the founding day of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople. However, prior to this visit, Mehmet Ali Ağca, a nationalist activist who had threatened to kill the Pope, did indeed attempt to assassinate him in the Vatican approximately 1.5 years after the visit, shooting and seriously wounding him. The Pope, who survived the incident, later visited Ağca in prison and announced that he had forgiven him after speaking with him.

A Pope in Sultanahmet: Benedict XVI

The third official visit from the Vatican to Türkiye was made by Benedict XVI in 2006. The fact that the visit came 27 years later is directly related to the crisis created by the Ağca case. During his visit, which included both Istanbul and Ankara, Benedict also attended the Feast of St. Andrew on November 30 and visited the Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque). Benedict's visit was also quite important because prior to this visit, some statements made by the Pope had been interpreted as “anti-Islamic”, and, influenced by reactions to the Iraq War, anti-Christian sentiments among Muslim fanatics in Türkiye and the Middle East had begun to grow stronger. The Pope's visit, however, calmed these reactions, and Benedict, explaining that his words had been “misunderstood”, succeeded in softening relations.

The Erdoğan family and Turkish delegation in the Vatican

The fourth and final visit was made by Pope Francis on November 28-30, 2014. Francis, who was experiencing some problems with Türkiye at that time, particularly due to the approaching 100th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide allegations, and during which Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Paçacı was even recalled to Ankara for a while due to the crisis. He managed to mend bilateral relations and establish good chemistry with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, partly due to the latter's humanitarian stance of respecting people of all faiths. Indeed, following this visit, our President also visited the Vatican on February 5, 2018, and this visit was also very successful. Erdoğan, the second Turkish President to visit the Vatican after Celal Bayar, thus increased Türkiye's prestige in the Western world by presenting a vision of a peaceful and respectful statesman despite his devout Muslim personality, disappointing those who wanted to see Türkiye on a radical Islamist path.

Pope Leo at the Mausoleum of Atatürk (Anıtkabir)

In this context, Pope Leo XIV's visit was not a diplomatic event that occurs frequently in Türkiye, and it is only natural that this visit should be viewed in the context of diplomatic history and intercultural dialogue. Like previous official Vatican visits, Leo's visit was timed to coincide with a historical moment and was organized to mark the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea (İznik), where Jesus Christ was declared “divine”. During the visit, planned for November 27-30, the Head of State of the Vatican and spiritual leader of Christian Catholics visited Anıtkabir, the eternal resting place of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and met with President Erdoğan and Safi Arpaguş, President of Religious Affairs.

Pope Leo's Visit: Symbols and Messages

During his visit to Anıtkabir, Pope Leo wrote in the guest book, “I thank God for being able to visit Türkiye, and I wish this country and its people peace and prosperity.” He particularly emphasized messages about family, praising the Turks for their devotion to this issue. The Pope's emphasis on family took on even greater meaning when one considers Israel's attack on the Holy Family Church in Gaza. Leo, who was welcomed with a lavish diplomatic ceremony at the Presidential Complex in the capital Ankara, endeavored to deliver messages of peace after the meeting. Indeed, President Erdoğan also delivered similar messages, contributing to Muslim-Christian dialogue and friendship.

Speaking first at the press conference, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said: "We are a country inspired by the double-headed Seljuk eagle, facing both East and West. For a thousand years, people of every race, religion, sect, and origin have lived freely on this land, our homeland, without fear or oppression. When you visit Istanbul, Hatay, Mardin, Diyarbakır, and many of our other cities, you will see churches and synagogues side by side with mosques. Since we came to power in 2002, we have completed the restoration of nearly 100 churches and places of worship. Our guest's calls for peace are extremely valuable. Peace for everyone, tranquility for everyone..." Expressing his pleasure at hosting the Pope, the President of Türkiye also viewed the Pope's first foreign visit to Türkiye as very positive. Erdoğan also stated that they wanted to further develop Türkiye-Vatican relations. Erdoğan also stated that they have protected the non-Muslim (Christian) heritage in Türkiye during their time in power, summarizing their actions in this regard (church restorations, etc.) and claiming that no discrimination is made against anyone in Turkey, especially Christians. President Erdoğan also brought up the Alliance of Civilizations project, co-led by Spain and Türkiye, and emphasized its importance. Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye's humanitarian aid efforts in various crises, particularly the Syrian civil war, and noted that they are actively working to end all conflicts, especially the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War. Finally, the Turkish President referred to the great humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza, praising the Pope's efforts in this regard and criticizing Israel.

Following President Erdoğan, Pope Leo XIV took the stage and expressed his satisfaction at being well received in Türkiye, noting that the country's beauty comes from God. Emphasizing Türkiye's importance in world politics, the new Pope said that Türkiye, which connects Asia with Europe and East with West, is a very important country for all of humanity. Noting that pluralism and respect for differences are necessary in such a country, Leo criticized extremist movements and polarization in world politics, saying that Christians do not want this and wish Türkiye well. In his speech, Pope Leo also mentioned Roncalli, known as the “Turkish Pope”, and conveyed some of the views of Pope John XXIII, who served in Türkiye and Greece in the recent past, on the interactions between the two civilizations and states. In his speech, the Pope also spoke of the oppressed and said that people should not be indifferent to their suffering. The spiritual leader of Catholics, who often uses the metaphor of a “bridge” when referring to Türkiye, particularly emphasized the concepts of "justice" and "mercy". The Pope also defended the religious freedoms of people of all faiths, stressing that “we are all children of God”. The Pope, who also said that technological revolutions should not trigger inequalities between people and societies, briefly touched on the subject of artificial intelligence in his speech. Comparing humanity to a “big family”, Leo XIV, praised the Turks' attitude toward family, and criticized individualistic approaches and consumer culture. Instead, the Pope suggested more personal and emotional relationships between people and underscored the need for tolerance. The Pope also defended women's freedoms, stating that he considered their active participation in life to be necessary. The Pope concluded his remarks by wishing stability for Türkiye and peace and prosperity for the world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV's visit to Türkiye has been quite successful, and this fifth official visit from the Vatican has witnessed some historic moments. The Pope's warm reception in Türkiye is extremely beneficial and positive in terms of Muslim-Christian relations. However, the Vatican, a small spiritual state, is undoubtedly not a state that is at the forefront of today's cold political calculations. In this sense, the visit is more effective, valuable, and important from a spiritual and symbolic point of view. The Pope's avoidance of words that could be misunderstood and perceived as targeting any state reflects his utmost attention and care in this regard. In this sense, the American Pope sought to show that he was not targeting any state and that he was not using the Papacy as a political tool. President Erdoğan's careful and beautiful speech during the visit has also been an important source of prestige for his political career and Türkiye's image. Therefore, those who planned this successful visit undoubtedly deserve congratulations.

Prof. Dr. Ozan ÖRMECİ

Kıbrıs'ta Barış Süreci Hızlanıyor...

 

KKTC'de Tufan Erhürman'ın Cumhurbaşkanı seçilmesiyle yeniden hareketlenen Kıbrıs'ta, halen ateşkes statüsündeki Kıbrıs Sorunu'na kalıcı bir barış getirilmesi yönünde müspet gelişmeler yaşanmaya devam ediyor. Öyle ki, 20 Kasım 2025 tarihinde Birleşmiş Milletler gözetiminde iki lider (Erhürman ile Nikos Hristodulidis) arasında gerçekleştirilen pozitif görüşme sonrasında, Kıbrıs basınına yansıyan kulis bilgilerine göre, Erhürman'ın seçim kampanyasında öne sürdüğü 4 ön şartın 3'ünde Kıbrıs Rum tarafının desteği şimdiden sağlanmış durumda. Bu, ilerleyen aylarda görüşmelerin kapsamlı çözüm bağlamında ivmelenebileceğine dair çok önemli bir tespit. Bu yazıda, Kıbrıs'taki gelişmeleri özetlemeye çalışacağım.

Lefkoşa merkezli Gıynık Gazetesi'nin Politis gazetesine dayandırdığı 30 Kasım 2025 tarihli habere göre, Erhürman ile Hristodulidis’in ilk görüşmelerinde yakalanan iyi ve yapıcı ortam, Cumhurbaşkanlığı Müsteşarı Mehmet Dânâ ile Rum Müzakereci Menelaos Menelau’nun Cuma günkü iki saatlik  görüşmesine de olumlu yansımış ve şimdiden her iki lider de BM Genel Sekreteri’nin Kıbrıs Özel Temsilcisi Maria Angela Holguin ile yapacakları görüşme için hazırlanmaya başlamışlardır. Dahası, Rum lider, Nikos Hristodulidis, Erhürman'ın öne sürdüğü 4 şarttan (1. Kıbrıslı Rumlar, siyasi eşitlik ve dönüşümlü Başkanlığı kabul etmelidir, 2. Müzakereler için bir takvim belirlenmeli ve iş ağırdan alınmamalıdır, 3. Mülkiyet konusunda varılan uzlaşının bozulmayacağı taahhüt edilmelidir, 4. Kıbrıslı Rumlar müzakereleri bir kez daha terk ederlerse, statükoya dönülmeyeceği ve KKTC’nin bazı kazanımlar elde edeceği konusunda uzlaşıya varılmalıdır.) 3'üne şimdiden onay vermeye hazırdır. Habere göre, ilk 3 madde konusunda herhangi bir çekincesi olmayan Rum liderliği, dördüncü maddede geçen müzakerelerin çökmesi durumunda ne olacağı konusunda ise müzakerelerin Türk tarafı nedeniyle sonuçsuz kalması durumunda ne olacağını gündeme getirmiştir. Bu bağlamda, Hristodulidis, müzakereler Kıbrıs Türk tarafı yüzünden çökerse ne olacağını sormuş ve örneğin Kapalı Maraş’ın Kıbrıslı Rumlara verilip verilmesinin gerekip gerekmeyeceğini ve Türkiye’nin bunu yazılı hale getirip getiremeyeceğini sormuştur. Bu durum, iki taraf arasında halen ciddi pürüzler olabileceğine işaret etse de, her iki liderin de Guterres Çerçevesi'ne destek vermesi, gelecek adına olumlu bir sinyaldir.

Hatırlanacak olursa, 2017 Crans-Montana'da çözümü çok olası bir ihtimal haline getiren, ama dönemin Rum lideri Nikos Anastasiades'in son anda caymasıyla sonuçsuz kalan Guterres Çerçevesi, ismini BM Genel Sekreteri Antonio Guterres'ten alan Kıbrıs Sorunu konusundaki tarihi bir ilkeler manzumesidir. Buna göre, Guterres Çerçevesi şu şekilde özetlenebilir:

Güvenlik ve Garantiler: Yeni federal Kıbrıs'ta, 1960 Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti'nin eski tip garanti/güvenlik sistemleri uygulanmayacaktır. Ancak bu, "sıfır asker, sıfır garanti" demek de değildir. Bunun yerine, her iki tarafı da tatmin edecek yeni bir güvenlik/garanti sistemi müzakereler sonucunda oluşturulacaktır. Çözümle beraber asker sayısında kayda değer azalma yaşanacak, ayrıca taraflar arasında asker konusu görüşülecek ve Yunanistan ile Türkiye'nin adada belli miktarda asker bulundurması gündeme gelebilecektir.

Toprak: Toprak konusunda Mustafa Akıncı döneminde taraflar arasında büyük ölçüde uzlaşılmış ve KKTC bir miktar toprağı Rum tarafına bırakmayı taahhüt etmiştir. Özellikle Güzelyurt'un Rum tarafına verilmesi hususunda ilkesel uzlaşı kabul görmüştür.

Mülkiyet: Mülkiyet konusunda da taraflar arasında büyük ölçüde uzlaşıya varılmış ve "eşdeğer muamele" ilkesi uyarınca her iki taraftan da kişilerin hak kayıplarının önüne geçilmesi uzlaşısına varılmıştır.

Yönetim ve Güç Paylaşımı: Güç paylaşımı konusunda 2/1 oranında dönüşümlü Başkanlık prensibi kabul görmüştür. Bu, 4 yıl Rum, 2 yıl Türk Başkan anlamına gelmektedir.

Siyasi Eşitlik: Siyasi eşitlik konusunda da hiçbir sorun bulunmamakta ve Rum tarafı bu ilkeye destek vermektedir.

Bu çerçeveye her iki liderin de sıcak yaklaşması, Kıbrıs Sorunu'nda tarihi bir sürece girilebileceği ve çözüme ulaşılabileceği umudunu doğurmaktadır. Ancak tesadüfi değildir ki, Kıbrıs'ta barış rüzgarlarının esmeye başlamasıyla birlikte, her iki taraftan aşırı sağcı faşist siyasetçiler de gündemi değiştirmek ve müzakereleri sabote etmek için girişimlere başlamışlardır. Örneğin, Türkiye karşıtı popülist açıklamalarıyla bilinen Yunanistan Dışişleri Bakanı Nikos Dendias, Türkiye'yi tehdit olarak gördükleri ve önemli bir turizm merkezi olan Ege Denizi'ni "füzelerle donatmak istediklerini" belirten açıklamasıyla neye hizmet ettiğini açıkça ortaya koymuş ve barış havasını bozmaya çalışmıştır.

Dendias gibilerden farklı olarak, çözümü bölgesel barış için ileri bir unsur olarak gören yapıcı kişiler de bulunmaktadır. Örneğin, ABD'nin Ankara Büyükelçisi ve Suriye Özel Temsilcisi Tom Barrack'ın Doğu Akdeniz'de barış için Kıbrıs'ta çözüme destek verdiklerini açıklaması önemlidir. Ayrıca Türkiye'yi seven ve destekleyen Türk Devletleri de çözüme destek olmaktadır. Örneğin, Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti'ne Büyükelçi atayan Kazakistan, bu kararını izah etmekte ve yaptıklarının doğru olduğu konusunda hiçbir şüpheye yer vermemektedir. Hatırlanacak olursa, müttefikleri Türkiye'yi uluslararası hukuka uygun çizgiye çekmek isteyen Türk Devletleri Teşkilatı (TDT) da 2025 Budapeşte Bildirisi ile kısa süre önce çözüme yönelik bir resmi açıklama yapmıştır. Bu açıklamayı müteakiben, birçok Türk devleti (Kazakistan, Özbekistan ve Türkmenistan), Güney Lefkoşa'da Büyükelçilik açarak Rum Kesimi ile resmi ilişkilerini tesis etmeye başlamıştır. 

Dileğimiz, Türkiye'nin BM düzenine destek veren uluslararası hukuka saygılı bir devlet olarak Kıbrıs müzakerelerine engel olmaması ve emperyalizm karşıtı bir devlet olarak adanın iki yerli halkına çözüm formülü geliştirmeleri için fırsat tanımasıdır. Bu, kesinlikle Türkiye'ye zarar değil, fayda sağlayacak bir husustur. Zira komşularıyla sorunlu ilişkilerini düzelten bir ülke, hiç şüphesiz ekonomik ve siyasi olarak kısa sürede daha da güçlenecek ve etkisi farklı şekillerde artacaktır. Şimdilerde PKK'nın tasfiyesi için tarihi bir süreç yürüten Türk hükümeti, bunu mutlaka fark etmeli ve çözüm için samimiyetle çabalamalıdır. 

Prof. Dr. Ozan ÖRMECİ