29.11.2025 20:45
The spiritual leader of the Catholic world and the President of the Vatican City, Pope Leo XIII, participated in a holy mass attended by approximately 4,000 people at the Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul on the third day of his visit to Turkey. The mass, presided over by Pope Leo himself, was also attended by cardinals and priests from the Catholic, Orthodox, and Armenian Churches. In his speech during the mass, the Pope emphasized the importance of Christmas and conveyed a message of unity among Christians, social solidarity, and peace.
The spiritual leader of the Catholic world and the President of the Vatican City, Pope Leo XIII, addressed Christian communities and guests during a mass held at the Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul as part of his visit to Turkey.
4,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED, THE MASS WAS LED BY THE POPE HIMSELF The mass took place with the participation of approximately 4,000 people, including priests from the Catholic, Orthodox, and Armenian Churches. Pope Leo led the mass, accompanied by cardinals, and prayers were recited. The mass, which included hymns, lasted about 2 hours. It holds great significance for Christians during the Christmas season.
Pope Leo, in his speech during the mass, emphasized the importance of Christian unity and social solidarity by recalling the birth of Jesus Christ. He highlighted the necessity of living with faith and love, citing examples from the teachings of Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Paul.
"WE ARE STARTING THE FOUR WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS (ADVENT)" Pope Leo also stated: "We are starting the four weeks before Christmas (Advent), a season to prepare to experience the mystery of God's son Jesus in a new Christmas; Jesus, who is one in essence with the Father, uncreated and material, as officially declared by the fathers gathered at the Council of Nicaea 1,700 years ago. In this context, the first readings of today's mass come from one of the most beautiful sections of the prophet Isaiah's book; here, a call resonates to all nations to God's mountain, a place of light and peace.
Here, we find an invitation to renew the strength of our own faith testimony. Saint John Chrysostom, a great guide of this church, has spoken of the resilience of holiness as a more meaningful sign than many miracles.
"IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE PEACE REIGNS" Imagine a world where peace reigns. They will turn their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift sword against nation, nor will they learn war anymore. Today, think about how urgent this call is for us, how great the need for peace is. To better understand this, let’s look at the logo of this journey; one of the selected images reminds us of the famous large viaduct that crosses the Bosphorus and connects two continents, Asia and Europe.
"THE TRIPLE BRIDGE STRUCTURE OVER THE BOSPHORUS REMINDS US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR JOINT EFFORTS IN BUILDING UNITY" Over time, two more crossings have been added, and now there are three connection points between the two continents. While these may seem impressive and magnificent, they show how small and fragile they are compared to the enormous structure they emerged from. The triple bridge structure over the Bosphorus reminds us of the importance of our joint efforts in building unity: in our relationships within the community, in ecumenical relations with members of other Christian denominations, and in our encounters with our brothers. It is our duty to observe, strengthen, and expand these three bonds in every possible way.
"THIS COUNTRY INCLUDES FOUR DIFFERENT LITURGICAL TRADITIONS: LATIN, ARMENIAN, CHALDEAN, AND SYRIAC" Part of our call is to be 'a city set on a hill.' The first bond of unity I just mentioned is the unity within this church. It encompasses four different liturgical traditions in this country: Latin, Armenian, Chaldean, and Syriac. Each offers its own spiritual, historical, and ecclesiastical richness. Sharing these differences clearly shows one of the most beautiful features of the bride of Christ, namely Catholicism and unity. The unity that binds us around the offering is a gift from God; it is so strong and invincible that it is the work of His grace. However, over time, the realization of this unity has been entrusted to our efforts.
Therefore, like the bridges over the Bosphorus, unity requires care, attention, and continuity; so that its foundations remain solid and are not shaken by time and difficulties. Let us turn our eyes to the promised mountain, the image of our destination and our mother, the heavenly Jerusalem. Therefore, let us make every effort to nourish and strengthen the bonds that connect us to one another, so that we may enrich each other.
"FAITH BRINGS TOGETHER NOT ONLY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH BUT ALL OUR BROTHERS BELONGING TO OTHER CHRISTIAN CHURCHES" Let us be ready for the world of Jesus' universal and eternal love.
The second point of unity suggested by the liturgy is humanism. I would like to mention that this is confirmed by the presence of representatives from other Christian denominations, and I extend my heartfelt greetings to them. Indeed, the same faith in our Lord Jesus Christ unites not only those within the Catholic Church but also all our brothers and sisters belonging to other Christian churches. We experienced this during our prayer meeting yesterday. This is a path we have walked together for a long time. John XXIII was also deeply connected to these lands with a bond of love.
Therefore, with the words of Pope John, while wishing that the great and holy mystery of unity, which Jesus Christ requested from the heavenly Father, may be realized in the fervent prayers and sacrifice of him, today we renew our "yes" to unity. 'That they may all be one.' Who are the saints? The third bond of unity called by the Word of God is the bond with members of non-Christian communities. The world is filled with wars and persecutions justified for religious reasons, displacing people.