Istanbul: Pope Leo XIV delivered messages of peace and mutual respect to the world during a Mass he celebrated in Istanbul, the second stop on his official visit to Turkey. In his homily during the Mass, Pope Leo XIV said that the three bridges spanning the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul reminded him of the importance of joint efforts to build bridges of unity among the peoples of the world.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, he added that the foundations of unity require stability and maintenance, remaining unaffected by the passage of time and changes, just like the Bosphorus bridges. The Pope called for every possible effort to strengthen and reinforce these bonds.

He continued, saying, “We want to walk together to deliver a powerful message of hope to everyone and to call for peace, by appreciating what unites us, dismantling the barriers of prejudice and mistrust, and promoting mutual knowledge and respect.”

The Pope arrived in Turkey last Thursday to begin his first official foreign trip since assuming the papacy last May.