Turkey: Pope Calls For Dialogue Among Religious Leaders

Pope Francis stressed on the importance of dialogue between leaders of different religions during his landmark visit to the Turkish capital Friday.



The pontiff made the remarks during a press conference held jointly with the head of Turkey's religious affairs directorate, Mehmet Gormez.



"Dialogue between leaders of different religions is extremely important as it gives a clear message to all related communities and shows that mutual respect and friendship are possible despite differences," Pope Francis said.



Gormez said that religion and religious institutions should never be allowed to be used as a tool of dirty politics.



"It is the common desire of all religions that people live in peace," he said.



"Thus, it is of vital importance that all religious entities are involved in an effort that accepts morality as a basic principle," he added.



Pope Francis arrived Friday afternoon in Ankara to begin a three-day visit.



The 76-year-old Argentine pope is the fourth Supreme Pontiff to visit Turkey. Pope Paul VI visited the country in 1967, Pope John Paul II in 1979 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.   



During his visit, the spiritual leader of the world's one billion Catholics visited the Anitkabir mausoleum, the gravesite of Turkey's founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.



He also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Ankara