28.11.2025 23:15
A striking detail has emerged regarding the visit of Pope Leo XIII, the spiritual leader of Catholics, to Turkey. Historian Prof. Dr. Erhan Afyoncu stated that Pope Urban II initiated the Crusades with his speech on November 27, 1095, declaring, "God wills it!" He also noted that Pope Leo visited Turkey on November 27, marking the 930th anniversary of that speech.
The spiritual leader of Catholics, Pope Leo XIV, who held meetings in Ankara and Istanbul as part of his visit to Turkey, arrived in the district of Iznik in Bursa. Leo addressed the assembly of Christian denominations regarding the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.
INTERESTING STATEMENT FROM AFYONCU REGARDING THE POPE'S VISIT
Leo's visit to Turkey brought discussions along with it. Historian Prof. Dr. Erhan Afyoncu shared an intriguing detail about Pope Leo's visit to Turkey. Leo stated: "Pope Urban II addressed a large crowd of clergy and people during the Council of Clermont on November 27, 1095.
Delivering one of the most influential speeches of the Middle Ages, he called upon all Christians in Europe to wage war against Muslims to reclaim the Holy Lands. His speech, which ended with the cry "Deus vult!" meaning "God wills it!" initiated the Crusades that would last for 200 years.
"HE CAME TO TURKEY ON THE 930TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPEECH THAT STARTED THE CRUSADES"
As a result of the Crusades, hundreds of thousands of Muslims, Christians, and Jews were slaughtered. The states established by the Crusaders in the Middle East were destroyed as a result of several centuries of struggle by the Turks. It seems to be a coincidence that Pope Leo XIV came to our country on November 27, the 930th anniversary of the speech that initiated the Crusades."