Pope Leo tells Turkish first lady he might visit Turkey in November, presidency says
ISTANBUL and VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV told Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan that he aims to visit Turkey at the end of November, according to a readout of their meeting at the Vatican on Wednesday by the Turkish presidency.
The pope, who held an official meeting with the wife of President Tayyip Erdogan at the Vatican's apostolic palace, told her that officials from Ankara and Vatican were working on the details of the visit, the presidency said in a statement.
The Vatican did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the first lady's statement.
Leo, elected on May 8 to replace the late Pope Francis, has not yet announced any foreign trips.
Francis had been planning a trip to Turkey before his death to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of an early Church council with Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Leo has been widely expected to take the trip in Francis' stead.
Bartholomew previously told an Italian television station that he and Leo discussed the possibility of the new pope traveling to Turkey in late November. — Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
8 hours ago
- GMA Network
Palace: Marcos to study refiled divorce, anti-political dynasty bills
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. will study the refiled bills in Congress, particularly the proposed measures on divorce and anti-political dynasty. During Thursday's press conference, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said the President has no official stance yet as regards the divorce bill, as it would be better to study this measure first. ''Sa ngayon po ay wala pa pong klarong stance ang Pangulo patungkol sa Divorce Bill... Mas maganda po talagang makita kung ano iyong nilalaman na provisions sa sinabi nating Divorce Bill dahil sa ating pagkakaalam ang karaniwan doon sa mga provisions or sa mga dahilan para i-approve ang legal separation ay sinama nila para maging dahilan na rin para mapawalang-bisa ang kasal hindi lang through legal separation,'' Castro said. (Right now, the President does not have a clear stance regarding the Divorce Bill... It would be better to see what provisions are contained in the said Divorce Bill because, as far as we know, the usual provisions or reasons for approving legal separation have been included to also be grounds for annulling a marriage, not just through legal separation.) Pressed if Marcos would support such a measure, Castro said it will depend on the bill's provisions and if the Church will also support it. ''Depende po. Muli, kapag po maganda iyong provisions at makikita rin po natin na ang bawat simbahan ay umaayon na ito ay dapat at nararapat, maaari po itong bigyan nang magandang tugon ng Pangulo,'' she said. (It depends. Again, if the provisions are good and we also see that every church agrees that this is what is necessary and appropriate, the President can give a good response to this.) On Wednesday, the Makabayan bloc lodged a measure that seeks to ban political dynasties. The proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act seeks to prevent family members from holding or running for national and local positions simultaneously. Castro said the President will also look into this. "Siguro po mas maganda kung maibibigay niya/nila ang pinakadetalye at buong nilalaman ng bill na ito dahil mahirap po sa ngayon na mag-oo o maghindi ang Pangulo. Mas maganda pong maibigay iyong pinakadetalye dahil maaaring magandang maidulot nito sa ating bansa," she said. (Maybe it would be better if they could provide details of this bill because it is difficult for the President to say yes or no at this time. It would be better if the most detailed information could be provided because it may bring good to our country.) Castro also said Marcos would support any measure that will push for the betterment of the youth. She was asked about the bill filed by Senator Panfilo Lacson seeking to regulate the use of social media by minors. ''Kung ito po talaga ay magko-cause ng mental health issues, sususugan din po ng Pangulo iyan at makakakuha siya ng suporta basta po ito ay para sa taumbayan at lalung-lalo na para sa kabataan,'' Castro said. (If this really causes mental health issues, the President will also amend it and he will get support as long as it is for the people and especially for the youth.) Under Lacson's bill, minors shall be prohibited from accessing or using social media services, while social media platforms shall take "reasonable steps and age verification measures to prevent age-restricted users from registering, accessing, or continuing to use their social media service." —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
Pope Leo tells Turkish first lady he might visit Turkey in November, presidency says
Pope Leo XIV meets Emine Erdogan, wife of Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan, at the Vatican, July 2, 2025. Vatican Media/ Mario Tomassetti/ Handout via REUTERS ISTANBUL and VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV told Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan that he aims to visit Turkey at the end of November, according to a readout of their meeting at the Vatican on Wednesday by the Turkish presidency. The pope, who held an official meeting with the wife of President Tayyip Erdogan at the Vatican's apostolic palace, told her that officials from Ankara and Vatican were working on the details of the visit, the presidency said in a statement. The Vatican did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the first lady's statement. Leo, elected on May 8 to replace the late Pope Francis, has not yet announced any foreign trips. Francis had been planning a trip to Turkey before his death to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of an early Church council with Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Leo has been widely expected to take the trip in Francis' stead. Bartholomew previously told an Italian television station that he and Leo discussed the possibility of the new pope traveling to Turkey in late November. — Reuters
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
Iran enacts law suspending cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog
The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna, Austria May 23, 2021. REUTERS/ Leonhard Foeger/ File photo Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian put into effect on Wednesday a law passed by parliament last week to suspend cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, Iranian state media reported. Iran has threatened to halt cooperation with the IAEA, accusing it of siding with Western countries and providing a justification for Israel's air strikes, which began a day after the IAEA board voted to declare Iran in violation of obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The law stipulates that any future inspection of Iran's nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency needs approval by Tehran's Supreme National Security Council. "We are aware of these reports. The IAEA is awaiting further official information from Iran," the IAEA said in a statement. Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in an interview with CBS News that the US bombing of Iran's key Fordow nuclear site has "seriously and heavily damaged" the facility. — Reuters
