30.11.2025 10:50
The spiritual leader of the Catholic world, Pope Leo XIII, received a reaction from the Great Unity Party (BBP), the other partner of the coalition, following the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). BBP leader Destici stated, "Iznik has never been a neutral place, and it will not be... This visit may not be a show of force; however, it is definitely a 'reckoning.' It is a reckoning both for the Christian world within itself and for its reckoning with our ancient history... As a state and a nation, there is no need to panic, but there is also no point in sleeping while standing."
The spiritual leader of the Catholic world, Pope Leo XIII, returned to Istanbul after attending a ceremony held in Iznik to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.
PRAYER VISIT TO MARY MOTHER PATRIARCHATE CHURCH
Pope's first stop on Saturday morning was the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, followed by a visit to the Mor Ephrem Syriac Ancient Orthodox Church in Yeşilköy, where he met with representatives of the Christian community. Today, Pope Leo XIII made a prayer visit to the Kumkapı Mary Mother Patriarchate Church.
STRONG REACTION FROM MHP
The series of visits and ceremonies attended by the Pope created a crisis within the People's Alliance. MHP Deputy Chairman and Istanbul MP Semih Yalçın criticized the visit harshly in a statement on his social media account. In a post on X, Yalçın said, "As is known, Pope Leo XIII is visiting Turkey from November 27 to December 2. This visit, which contains planned messages to the Christian world and aims to stir up both historical and religious divisions, appears to have turned into a kind of show."
Yalçın stated, "Indeed, during the Iznik portion of the visit, a grand ceremony was held by reviving the Council Meeting that took place 1700 years ago in 325. This purposeful ceremony, held on the Turkish lands inherited from the Seljuks and Ottomans with the aim of uniting the Christian world, has caused discomfort in the public opinion."
BAHÇELİ'S PHONE CALL TO THE SCREENWRITER OF "KURULUŞ ORHAN"
On the other hand, Semih Yalçın announced that MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli called Mehmet Bozdağ, the screenwriter and producer of the series "Kuruluş Orhan," which is broadcast on ATV.
Yalçın stated, "The Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party, our Leader Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, called Mehmet Bozdağ, the screenwriter and producer of the series 'Kuruluş Orhan,' which is being aired on ATV, emphasizing that the series is a very important educational and warning work in terms of Turkish history and the geography of Anatolia. Our General Chairman also recommended that this successful series, which he closely follows, be watched with sensitivity and interest by our nation."
A REACTION ALSO CAME FROM BÜYÜK BİRLİK PARTY
Following MHP, a strong reaction also came from the other partner of the People's Alliance, the Büyük Birlik Party, regarding the Pope's visit to Turkey. In a statement on X, BBP Chairman Mustafa Destici used the following expressions; "The first foreign visit of Pope Leo XIII, the spiritual leader of 1.5 billion Catholics and the first American Pope of the Vatican, was to Ankara. Then to Istanbul and Iznik...
As the Büyük Birlik Party, let us express clearly: We see that this trip carries a meaning that is not only 'touristic' but also clearly 'political' and 'theological.' Evaluating this trip, which progresses within the classic apostolic travel protocol of the Vatican, merely as 'cultural-diplomatic courtesy' or 'a harmless commemoration event' goes beyond mere naivety.
"THIS VISIT IS A CONFRONTATION"
We believe that the Iznik visit carries a 'historical,' 'religious,' 'ideological,' and naturally 'political' significance. To overlook this and to present this visit program merely as 'touristic pleasure' or 'a harmless commemoration event' is either ignorance of history or feigning ignorance! Iznik has never been a neutral venue, nor will it be... This visit may not be a show of force; however, it is definitely a 'confrontation.'
Both a confrontation of the Christian world with itself and a confrontation with our ancient history... There is no need for panic as a State and Nation, but there is also no point in sleeping while standing! We know that history is also written with symbols. And today, another page is being turned in Iznik. As long as we, as the sacred Turkish state and nation, keep our eyes open. God willing, we will overcome this as well."