Humanity must ‘walk together’, Pope Leo tells faithful in first overseas Mass in Istanbul

Pope Leo XIV called for humanity to “walk together” and to take part in peace building efforts, as he celebrated his first Mass overseas since becoming pontiff in May.

Addressing a congregation of thousands from more than 70 countries at an arena in Istanbul, Pope Leo called for a breaking down of “walls of prejudice and mistrust”, and to “give to all a strong message of hope and an invitation to become ‘peacemakers’”.

As well as the American Pope’s first overseas Mass, the service was the first public Mass ever led by a pontiff in Turkey. The leader of the world’s Roman Catholics is in the country on his first foreign tour since his appointment in May, as he attempts to spread a message of unity between faiths.

A man prays during a Mass conducted by Pope Leo XIV at the Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul on Saturday. Getty Images

“It’s a great blessing and joy to participate in Pope Leo XIV’s first foreign journey,” Father Paul Kass Daoud, 41, a Syriac Catholic Syrian living in Stockholm, told The National. “With God’s will, it will touch people’s hearts.”

Dressed in richly embroidered purple robes, the pontiff was joined on stage at Istanbul’s Volkswagen Arena by bishops, priests and other church officials as he led prayers read by worshippers in English, Turkish, Arabic, Armenian and Italian.

In his homily, the 70-year-old Pope spoke of the importance of unity between Catholics, Christians of different denominations, and with members of non-Christian communities – a theme that has been one of his key messages throughout his time in Turkey. On Sunday, he is to travel to Lebanon for the second leg of his six-day tour.

Pope Leo XIV leads Mass at the Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul. Getty Images

Addressing the pontiff on stage, Latin Catholic Bishop of Istanbul, Father Massimiliano Palinuro, said Turkey was a place where Christians and Muslims had lived alongside each other for centuries. “Here, we learn to appreciate each other’s richness and to live as brothers and sisters, breaking down the walls of age old prejudices,” he said, to rapturous applause from the congregation.

Some worshippers had made signs reading “Pope Leo, I love you”, while others waved Turkish, Spanish and Polish flags.

Pope Leo greets the congregation at the Volkswagen Arena on Saturday. EPA

Turkey stands to benefit from hosting the Pope both religiously and politically by displaying its diversity, said Nuri Kilinc. He is a member of a Syriac Catholic Church that opened in Istanbul in 2023, the first church to open in Turkey in over a century.

“For the minorities living in Turkey, it’s a very pleasing event,” he told The National.