Pope Leo XIV encourages small faith communities in Istanbul

Pope Leo XIV encourages small faith communities in Istanbul

On November 28, 2025, Pope Leo XIV will continue his Middle East tour with a significant visit to Istanbul. In a Catholic cathedral he gives a speech aimed at Catholic clergy, religious and pastoral workers. The Pope emphasizes the Byzantine past and the essential role that Christianity plays in the East. During a multilingual Liturgy of the Word, he speaks in English and encourages the gathered Christians to nurture their faith.

The situation of the Christian communities in Turkey is challenging. Today, Armenians, Syrians, Chaldeans, Catholics and Greek Orthodox believers live in a country with a strong Islamic character. The Pope emphasizes that the true strength of the Church lies not in material resources or social importance, but rather in the strength of small communities. “Do not be afraid, you little flock!”, the Pope quotes Jesus and encourages the small Catholic community, which is represented in Turkey with only 33,000 believers (less than 0.1% of the population).

The historical context

Istanbul, known as the legacy of Constantinople, has a long Christian tradition that is deeply rooted in history. The city was once a center of early Christian councils and schisms, but the number of Christians has fallen sharply since the Armenian massacre and the Greek-Turkish population exchange. There are currently around 150 Christian places of worship and around 2,000 mosques. Despite this development, the church in Istanbul remains active with 76 priests and 37 women religious as well as various social institutions such as kindergartens, elementary schools, retirement homes and hospitals.

Looking to the future, the Pope calls for strengthening dialogue, especially with young people, and emphasizes the importance of ecumenical and interreligious exchange. As part of his visit, Pope Leo XIV is planning an ecumenical commemoration in Iznik to promote the unity of the Christian faith. This event will commemorate the Council of Nicaea, which took place 1,700 years ago, and is intended to provide a platform for shared prayer among multiple denominations.

Joint declaration and future meetings

In Istanbul, the Pope and Patriarch Bartholomew I agreed to sign a joint declaration intended to strengthen cooperation between Eastern and Western church leaders. This initiative is seen by the episcopal community as a step towards increased unity and understanding between Christians of different denominations in the region.

Given the current challenges and the history of Christian communities in Turkey, the Pope's address conveys a sense of hope and determination to preserve and promote Christian roots in this historic region. In doing so, he shows that despite the difficult circumstances, the message of faith remains alive and relevant.