Türkiye and Vatican share common ground on peace, humanitarian efforts

Turkish Ambassador to the Vatican Fahrettin Altun has emphasised that Türkiye’s mediation efforts and the Vatican’s humanitarian work are mutually reinforcing, pointing to significant alignment between Ankara and the Holy See on major international issues. Altun, who presented his credentials to Pope Leo XIV in April, told Anadolu that bilateral relations rest on a long‑established foundation. “It is a great honour and an equally great responsibility to serve as the Republic of Türkiye’s ambassador to the Vatican,” he said.

Shared perspectives on global crises

Altun noted that Türkiye’s foreign policy engages influential global actors to resolve major crises, including Gaza, the Russia‑Ukraine war, and Iran‑US tensions. “The Vatican is one of these actors. The Pope is not only the head of the Vatican State but also the spiritual leader of approximately 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.” He pointed to Pope Leo XIV’s decision to make Türkiye his first official foreign destination as evidence of the importance the Vatican attaches to bilateral ties, adding that “following that visit, bilateral relations gained significant momentum.”

Pope’s gratitude and future cooperation

Altun said Pope Leo XIV personally expressed gratitude for the hospitality during his Türkiye visit, calling it an unforgettable experience. “The Pope said he was very pleased with the visit and conveyed his sincere thanks to President Erdoğan and the Turkish people.” Altun argued that the Pope’s visit demonstrated to the world that interaction among different religions and cultures can translate into a practical coexistence model based on tolerance. Both sides view the spread of disinformation, racism, far‑right extremism, Islamophobia, and anti‑Christian sentiment as growing threats, and agree on the need for lasting peace in the Middle East, protection of holy sites, and safeguarding civilians’ right to life.