Pope Leo XIV encouraged the small Catholic community in Turkey on Friday in Istanbul during the second day of his first pastoral visit, international media reported.
He did so before participating in an Orthodox prayer service on the occasion of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, considered a milestone in the founding of Christianity, confirmed the Argentine News Agency with information from the international site RFI.
Turkey is a country with an overwhelmingly Muslim majority, yet, the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church was received with fervor by hundreds of faithful gathered at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul.
"The logic of the small is the true strength of the Catholic Church in a country where Christians struggle with a strong feeling of exclusion," commented the Pope.
"It is what I desire most," said a woman in the crowd, notes the French site.
The chronicle notes that the Pope looked moved and, in that place, he encouraged priests and the faithful.
"The world needs peace, everywhere. We have serious problems, especially in our region and our country: foreigners, refugees... I think the Pope will have the power to help them and that he will do everything possible," the message states.
