HOW PONTIFF LEO COMPLETES FIRST APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO TURKIYE, BLUE MOSQUE (271 hits)
For Immediate Release From Vatican News!
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Pontiff Leo at Angelus: Advent Calls Us To Prepare For The Just Judge
At the Angelus prayer, Pontiff Leo XIV reflects on the urgency of preparing for the coming of the Kingdom of God and our encounter with Jesus, the just Judge. By Devin Watkins
Pontiff Leo XIV prayed the noon-day Angelus with the faithful gathered on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, as the Church celebrated the Second Sunday of Advent.
In his address, the Pope recalled John the Baptist’s preaching in the desert of Judea: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Each day, we pray the Our Father, in which we ask “Thy kingdom come.”
With those words, he said, we invite God’s kingdom to enter our world and recognize that the course of history is not controlled by the powerful of this world.
“Let us put our thoughts and energy at the service of God who came not to reign over us, but rather to free us,” said the Pope. “This is the ‘gospel,’ the truly good news that motivates and draws us in.”
John the Baptist’s preaching was severe, admitted Pope Leo. Yet, he said, his words are a call to take life seriously, urging us to prepare ourselves today “for the encounter with Him who judges not by appearance, but by our deeds and the intentions of our hearts.”
When Jesus came the first time, He came in meekness and mercy, surprising John the Baptist.
Jesus, said the Pope, resembles the sprout on a seemingly dead trunk spoken about by the prophet Isaiah. His coming, was not for power or destruction, but rather brought about rebirth and renewal.
“This is what the Church experienced in the Second Vatican Council, which concluded exactly sixty years ago,” noted Pope Leo XIV. “That experience is renewed when we journey toward the Kingdom of God, together with all those who eagerly welcome and serve it.”
The coming of God’s Kingdom will bring even those things that seemed weak or marginal to fulfillment.
“The world greatly needs this hope!” he said. “Nothing is impossible for God. Let us prepare ourselves for His Kingdom; let us welcome it.”
In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV invited Christians to embrace the spirituality of Advent, which he said is “very luminous and concrete.”
“The streetlights remind us that each of us can be a little light, if we welcome Jesus, the shoot of a new world.”
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Pope At Audience: Advent Teaches Us How To Wait In Active Hope
At the Jubilee Audience, Pope Leo XIV reflects on the importance of active waiting during the Advent Season, as we learn to hope and help bring the Kingdom of God closer through our good actions. By Devin Watkins
Pope Leo XIV held a special Jubilee Audience on Saturday, as the Church journeys in the Advent Season toward Christmas.
In his catechesis, the Pope said Advent teaches us to pay attention to the signs of the times, since it takes preparation and effort to recognize Jesus in our world and daily lives.
Our waiting for the fulfilment of creation and its redemption is not passive, he said, noting that God always seeks to involve us in His work.
“God involves us in His story, in His dreams,” he said. “To hope, then, is to participate.”
He recalled the Jubilee theme—“Pilgrims of Hope”—and said that motto will not lose meaning when the Jubilee ends at Christmas.
Rather, it calls us to journey in hope throughout our lives and wait, not with our hands in our pockets but by actively taking part.
Christians, said the Pope, must “read the signs of the times,” which are the signs of God in historical circumstances, according to the Second Vatican Council.
“God is not outside the world, outside this life: we have learned from the first coming of Jesus, God-with-us, to seek Him in the realities of life,” he said. “To seek Him with intelligence, with the heart and with our sleeves rolled up!”
Lay Catholics are especially called to embrace this mission, since the Incarnate God comes to meet us in daily life and the problems and beauties of this world.
He recalled the life and witness of Alberto Marvelli, a young, 20th-century Italian member of Catholic Action, who wanted to rebuild Italy after the devastation of the Second World War.
He risked his life in politics and was struck and killed by a military truck while bicycling to a rally.
“The world becomes better if we give up a little security and comfort in order to choose what is good,” said the Pope. “This is participation.”
In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV invited Catholics to ask ourselves if we are engaging our talents joyfully in service of others and the Kingdom of God.
“To hope is to participate: this is a gift that God gives us,” he said. “No one saves the world alone. Not even God wants to save it alone: He could, but He does not want to, because together is better.”
Papal preacher: Advent is a time of trusting expectation “The Parousia of the Lord. An expectation without hesitation” is the theme of the first of three meditations for Christmas, which began this morning, 5 December, in the Paul VI Hall, with Pope Leo in attendance. By Benedetta Capelli
We are “not lost wayfarers” but “sentinels that, in the night of the world, humbly maintain the confidence” that they will see the light “capable of illuminating every man,” says Father Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the Papal Household, in the first of three Advent meditations on the theme “Awaiting and hastening the coming of the Day of the Lord.”
In his reflection on the first Friday in Advent 2025, Fr Pasolini focused on “the Parousia of the Lord” and on the unique time period we are experiencing: the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope. “Advent is the time in which the Church rekindles hope,” he emphasized, “contemplating not only the first coming of the Lord, but above all his return at the end of times.”
It is the moment in which we are called “we are called to wait, and at the same time hasten the coming of the Lord with serene and active vigilance.”
Recognizing grace “Parousia” is a term used by the evangelist Matthew four times in chapter 24 of his Gospel. It is a word with a double meaning: both “presence” and “coming.”
Jesus compares the anticipation of His coming to the days of Noah before the Great Flood. Those were days when life flowed normally, and Noah alone built the ark, the instrument of salvation. His story raises questions necessary to understand what modern man must acknowledge. Faced with new and complex challenges, “the Church is called to remain a sacrament of salvation in an era of change.”
Father Pasolini emphasizes, “Peace remains a mirage in many regions unless longstanding injustices and wounded memories find healing, while in Western culture the sense of transcendence is weakened, crushed by the idols of efficiency, wealth and technology. The advent of artificial intelligence amplifies the temptation of a human being without limits and without transcendence.”
Pope Leo: ‘Music Is Like A Bridge That Leads Us To God’
Pope Leo XIV joins the audience at the Vatican’s “Concert with the Poor” in the Paul VI Hall and expresses his pleasure to be able to partake in the joy of listening to music, which is “not a luxury for the few, but a divine gift accessible to everyone.”
Saturday evening was special in the Vatican as Pope Leo XIV welcomed artists, volunteers, and more than 3,000 guests of honour - vulnerable and marginalised men and women in need of different nationalities, languages, and religions - who filled the Paul VI Hall for the sixth “Concert with the Poor.”
Greeting participants and guests at the conclusion of the event organised by the Dicastery for the Service of Charity and in collaboration with the Diocese of Rome and a host of associations and groups that care for the poor, this 2025 edition featured international artist Michael Bublè, together with his band, the Choir of the Diocese of Rome, conducted by Monsignor Marco Frisina, and the Nova Opera Orchestra.
The Pope sat back throughout the concert smiling, clearly enjoying the music, clapping with enthusiasm at the conclusion of every song and even singing along with Michael Bublè before taking a few moments to express his pleasure for having been able to join an event “born from the heart of Pope Francis.”
He highlighted the universal gift of music, saying, “This evening, as the melodies touched our hearts, we felt the inestimable value of music: not a luxury for the few, but a divine gift accessible to everyone, rich and poor.”
A Special Joy
“As I greet each one of you, I feel a special joy in welcoming you, brothers and sisters, for whom we have experienced this concert today: thank you for your presence!” he said as he welcomed the concert's intended audience, before thanking the organisers and contributors, including Cardinal Vicar Baldo Reina, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, and the various charitable organisations that, he noted, made the event possible. By Linda Bordoni
He also had special words of thanks for the performers: “Our gratitude naturally goes to those who have performed the music and songs with art and passion.”
Music Is lLke A Bridge That Leads Us to God
Reflecting on the spiritual significance of music, the Pope said, “Music is like a bridge that leads us to God. It is capable of transmitting feelings, emotions, even the deepest stirrings of the soul, lifting them up and transforming them into an imaginary stairway connecting earth and heaven.”
Music, he continued, does not merely distract from suffering, but reminds humanity of its greater identity: “We are not just this: we are far more than our problems and our troubles, we are God’s beloved children!”
The Pope also highlighted the strong connection between music and the celebration of Christmas, noting that “It is not a coincidence that the feast of Christmas is very rich in traditional songs, in every language and every culture. It is as though this Mystery could not be celebrated without music, without hymns of praise.”
Prepare For The Coming Of Christ
Inviting all to prepare for the coming of Christ during Advent, the Pope concluded, “Let us ensure that our hearts are not weighed down, that they are not preoccupied with selfish interests and material concerns, but rather that they are awake, attentive to others, to those in need; let us be ready to listen to the song of God’s love, which is Jesus Christ. Yes, Jesus is God’s song of love for humanity. Let us listen to this song! Let us learn it well, so that we too can sing it with our lives.”
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Pope: Holy See Will Not Be Silent Bystander Amid Global Inequality And War
Receiving new Ambassadors to the Holy See, Pope Leo XIV tells them the Holy See will not be a silent bystander amid global inequality and conflict..
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday received the Letters of Credence of thirteen new Ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, representing Uzbekistan, Moldova, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Liberia, Thailand, Lesotho, South Africa, Fiji, Micronesia, Latvia, and Finland.
Welcoming them during the Jubilee Year of Hope, he reminded them of its theme and highlighted its call to recover “the confident trust that we require, in the Church and in society, in our interpersonal relationships, in international relations, and in our task of promoting the dignity of all persons and respect for God’s gift of creation.”
He linked this appeal to his first words as Bishop of Rome, when he invoked the greeting of the risen Christ, “Peace be with you,” and renewed his invitation to work for what he has called an “unarmed and disarming peace.”
Commit To Peace
Peace, he stressed, is “not merely the absence of conflict,” but “an active and demanding gift… built in the heart and from the heart.” It requires a commitment to renounce “pride and vindictiveness” and to resist “the temptation to use words as weapons.” This vision, he said, becomes more urgent “as geopolitical tension and fragmentation continue to deepen in ways that burden nations and strain the bonds of the human family.”
Turning to the consequences of global instability, Pope Leo XIV noted that “the poor and the marginalised suffer most from these upheavals.”
Echoing Pope Francis, he reminded the diplomats that “the measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need.”
He reaffirmed the concern expressed in his Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te, that the world must not “avert its gaze from those who are easily rendered invisible by rapid economic and technological change.”
Holy See will not be a silent bystander In this context, Pope Leo stated that “the Holy See will not be a silent bystander to the grave disparities, injustices and fundamental human rights violations in our global community.”
The Church’s diplomacy, he added, is “consistently directed toward serving the good of humanity,” attentive especially to “those who are poor, in vulnerable situations or pushed to the margins of society.”
The Pope thus urged the newly accredited Ambassadors to join the Holy See in fostering renewed multilateral cooperation “at a moment when it is sorely needed,” expressing his hope that together they might help the international community “lay the foundations for a more just, fraternal and peaceful world.”
Pope Leo on AI: New Generations Must Be Helped, Not Hindered
Pope Leo XIV says that new generations must be helped and guided when it comes to their relationship with new technologies, and he calls for widespread participation in these efforts. By Isabella H. de Carvalho
Pope Leo XIV highlighted how “new generations must be helped, not hindered, on their path to maturity and responsibility,” especially when it comes to their relationship with new technologies and artificial intelligence. He was addressing participants in the Conference “Artificial Intelligence and Care for Our Common Home” on Friday, December 5, 2025.
“The ability to access vast amounts of data and information should not be confused with the ability to derive meaning and value from it,” the Pope explained, adding that “The latter requires a willingness to confront the mystery and core questions of our existence, even when these realities are often marginalized or ridiculed by the prevailing cultural and economic models.”
“The well-being of society,” he continued, depends on young people’s “ability to develop their talents and respond to the demands of the times and the needs of others, with generosity and freedom of mind.”
The conference was organized by the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation and the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU). It is taking place on Friday afternoon to present a report that evaluates the impact of artificial intelligence on the industrial, financial, educational and communications fields.
Development of AI must be collaborative effort Pope Leo invited his audience to teach young people how to use these new technologies with their own intelligence in order to search for truth and broaden their decision-making. “We support their desire to be different and better, because never before has it been so clear that a profound reversal of direction is needed in our idea of maturing,” the Pope said.
He also highlighted that in order to build a future with young people, it is necessary “to restore and strengthen their confidence in the human ability to guide the development” of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, and not see this development as following “an inevitable path.”
“This requires coordinated and concerted action involving politics, institutions, businesses, finance, education, communication, citizens and religious communities,” he said. “Actors from these areas are called upon to undertake a common commitment by assuming this joint responsibility. This commitment comes before any partisan interest or profit, which is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few.”
The Pope insisted on the need for widespread participation to achieve these goals and thanked those present for their contribution through their research.
Humans are co-workers in the work of creation Pope Leo underlined how artificial intelligence has brought about rapid and deep changes in society and already impacts millions of people daily, while also affecting certain aspects of the human person, “such as critical thinking, discernment, learning and interpersonal relationships”.
With this in mind, he highlighted certain questions to reflect on when evaluating the impact of these technologies: “How can we ensure that the development of artificial intelligence truly serves the common good, and is not just used to accumulate wealth and power in the hands of a few?”
Holy See: Ukrainian children must return to their families The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations continues its efforts, including through Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, for the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia. Vatican News
The Holy See will continue its efforts to ensure that Ukrainian children return to their families - including “through the efforts of the Special envoy of the Holy Father for humanitarian issues in Ukraine”, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi - and to ensure the release of prisoners of war.
This is what was stated in the declaration of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations during an Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly. This meeting was an occasion to encourage the parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the international community, to “continue working for the return of children to their families, which is an issue of justice and must not be overshadowed by political considerations.”
Opening to dialogue “The protracted war in Ukraine,” the statement continues, “with its profound and painful consequences, has resulted in the devastation of once-vibrant cities and the disruption of the lives of children, who should be growing up in a peaceful environment, not one afflicted by conflicts.”
The statement thus appeals for “an immediate ceasefire, which will pave the way for sincere and courageous dialogue,” to bring an end to the war “not at some undefined moment in the future, but right now.”
“With each passing day, the number of victims increases, the destruction widens and the hatred deepens. Every day without peace steals something from all of humanity,” the declaration insists.
Pope Leo: Türkiye Has Important Role For Peace in Middle East and Ukraine
Aboard the papal plane flying from Istanbul to Beirut, Pope Leo XIV thanks Türkiye’s authorities for their welcome and answers a pair of questions from reporters, expressing his hopes for peace in Ukraine and Gaza and confirming the desire to celebrate the 2033 Jubilee of Redemption in Jerusalem.
As the papal plane flew Pope Leo XIV from Türkiye to Lebanon on Sunday afternoon, he took a moment to answer questions from reporters traveling with him on his first Apostolic Journey.
The Pope began by expressing his appreciation for his visit to Türkiye, especially the work of the Turkish government.
Here follows a working English transcription and translation of the press conference:
Pope Leo XIV (in English): Good afternoon to you all. I’ll speak English to start; I think most of you understand. I’m happy to greet you. I hope you all had as good a time in Türkiye as I did. I think it was a wonderful experience.
As you know, the primary reason for coming to Türkiye was the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. We had that magnificent celebration, very simple and yet very profound, on the site of one of the ancient basilicas of Nicaea to commemorate the great event of the agreement of the whole Christian community and the profession of faith, the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.
Besides that, of course, there were many other events that we celebrated. I personally want to express to all of you my gratitude for all the work that went into planning the visit, beginning with the Nuncio, the staff, the whole team from Rome, of course, that did all the organization, but in a very special way the government of Türkiye, President Erdogan and so many people that he put at our disposition in order to make sure that the trip would be a total success, his personal helicopter, many means of transportation, organization, etc, the presence of the ministers in various moments along the visit, so it was, I think, a great success.
I was very happy to have the different moments we had with the different Churches, with the different Christian communities, with the Orthodox Churches, culminating this morning with the Divine Liturgy with Patriarch Bartholomew. So, it was a wonderful celebration, and I hope that all of you shared that same experience, so thank you. I don’t know if there are any questions or comments, just a couple because they are waiting for me for more photos.
Q: Baris Seçkin (Anadolu Ajansi): Thank you very much. At the beginning of your papal trip you made reference to world and regional peace. In this regard, what is your comment on Türkiye’s role in achieving and maintaining world and regional peace, and what were your discussions with President Erdogan on this matter?
To have come to Türkiye, and of course now to Lebanon, on this trip there was of course a special theme of, if you will, being a messenger of peace, of wanting to promote peace throughout the region.
An invitation to Jerusalem to walk together humbly, as brothers Our Editorial Director reflects on Pope Leo XIV’s announcement and invitation to other Christians to return to Jerusalem to celebrate together the Jubilee of Redemption in 2033. By Andrea Tornielli
Pope Leo XIV, who chose to inscribe in his episcopal motto a reference to unity in Christ, has invited all Christians to undertake a spiritual journey together.
He invited Christians to make a pilgrimage toward the Jubilee of Redemption in 2033, in the perspective of a return to Jerusalem, to the origins of our faith.
On Friday, in the Turkish city of Iznik, the site of ancient Nicaea, the leaders of many Christian denominations prayed together at the invitation of the Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew, to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the first ecumenical council.
It was a brief but moving ceremony, held near the remains of the Basilica of Saint Neophytos which have re-emerged from the waters of the great lake.
That gathering of leaders of various Christian confessions bore marks of the Gospel: much of Jesus’ preaching took place on the shores of another lake, the Sea of Galilee. Walking along those shores, the Nazarene called two fishermen, Peter and Andrew, and made them his apostles.
Yet, the scenic beauty of the place, together with the depth of the gesture that united Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants in prayer, was not enough to eclipse the painful wound of those who were absent.
Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew Reject Violence In The Name of God
Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I sign a Joint Declaration in Istanbul reaffirming their commitment to the path toward full communion and forcefully rejecting any use of religion to justify violence. By Linda Bordoni
On the third day of his Apostolic Visit to Türkiye, Pope Leo XIV travelled to the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul, where he joined Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I for the solemn recitation of the Doxology and the signing of a Joint Declaration that reaffirms their shared commitment to the path toward restored full communion and their united rejection of any appeal to religion to legitimize violence.
“We reject any use of religion and the name of God to justify violence.”
“The goal of Christian unity,” the Declaration states, “includes the objective of contributing in a fundamental and life-giving manner to peace among all peoples. Together we fervently raise our voices in invoking God’s gift of peace upon our world.”
Noting that “tragically, in many regions of our world, conflict and violence continue to destroy the lives of so many,” the Pope and the Patriarch issued an appeal “to those who have civil and political responsibilities to do everything possible to ensure that the tragedy of war ceases immediately, and we ask all people of good will to support our entreaty.”
The encounter between the two leaders took place on the eve of the Feast of Saint Andrew, the First-Called Apostle and patron of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Opening their declaration with the words of the Psalmist, “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,” the Pope and the Patriarch express gratitude for the grace of a fraternal meeting rooted in ecclesial charity and fidelity to the will of Christ.
A Shared Call To Unity In The Truth Of The Gospel
Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew recall that the search for full communion is grounded not in human diplomacy but in obedience to the Lord’s prayer in the Gospel of John: “that they may all be one… so that the world may believe.”
They affirm their determination to continue walking together “in love and truth,” inviting all the faithful—clergy, monastics, consecrated persons, and laypeople—to pray and work for the fulfillment of this divine petition.
Nicaea at 1700: A confession shared and received
The Declaration reflects on the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, commemorated the day before.
In it, the two leaders describe Nicaea as “a providential event of unity,” noting that its importance lies not only in historical memory but in ongoing openness to the Holy Spirit who guided the Council.
They state that Christians are bound together by the faith confessed in the Nicene Creed: the confession of Jesus Christ, “true God from true God, homoousios with the Father,” who became incarnate for our salvation, died and rose again, ascended into heaven, and will come in glory to judge the living and the dead.
This shared reception of the Creed, they write, allows the Churches to confront common challenges “with mutual respect… and genuine hope.”
“Endowed with this common confession, we can face our shared challenges in bearing witness to the faith expressed at Nicaea with mutual respect, and work together towards concrete solutions with genuine hope.”
Starting off his third day in Türkiye on his first Apostolic Journey, Pope Leo XIV visited the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the “Blue Mosque.”
"The Pope experienced the visit to the Mosque in silence, in a spirit of recollection and attentive listening, with deep respect for the place and for the faith of those who gather there in prayer," according to the Holy See Press Office.
One of the most important in Istanbul, this mosque was completed in 1617 by Sultan Ahmed I on part of the site of the Great Palace of Constantinople.
On the morning of the third day of his Apostolic Journey to Türkiye, Pope Leo XIV visits the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the “Blue Mosque.” https://loom.ly/eWtEG5U
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The strength of iittleness
As Pope Leo XIV visits Turkish Christians in Istanbul, our Editorial Director reflects on how his words offer a message for the whole Church. By Andrea Tornielli
While meeting the "little flock" of Turkish Catholics at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, Pope Leo XIV spoke words that not only captured the reality of the Christian presence in this land but also conveyed a precious message for everyone.
The Pope invited the faithful to adopt an evangelical outlook on this Church, which once had a glorious past but is now numerically small.
He urged them to look “with God's eyes” to discover and rediscover that he chose “the way of littleness, descending into our midst.”
The humility of the little house in Nazareth, where a young girl said "yes," allowing God to become man; the manger in Bethlehem, where the Almighty became a newborn completely dependent on the care of a father and mother; the public life of Jesus, spent preaching from village to village in a province at the farthest reaches of the empire, far from the radar of grand history.
The Kingdom of God, Pope Leo recalled, “does not impose itself with displays of power.” And in this logic, the logic of littleness, lies the true strength of the Church.
The Successor of Peter reminded the Christians of Türkiye that the Church strays from the Gospel and from God’s logic when it believes its strength lies in its resources and structures or when it measures the fruits of its mission by numerical consensus, economic power, or its ability to influence society.
“A Christian community in which the faithful, priests and bishops do not follow the path of littleness has no future… the kingdom of God sprouts in small things, always in what is small,” Pope Francis said in a homily at Santa Marta, which was quoted by his successor today.
