Pope Leo XIV in Turkey:
Thousands of Young People Will Pray with Him for Peace
Monsignor Vartan Kazandjian, Apostolic Administrator of the Armenian Archdiocese of Istanbul and coordinator of the Pope’s apostolic trip to the Euro-Asian country, revealed some organizational details of the visit to Vatican media: “Over 120 young men and women have registered for the celebration with the aim of working for peace. We want this celebration to become a founding moment for a youth movement for peace.”
“We didn’t expect to fill all 4,000 seats of the Arena. Now that the Pope is about to arrive, we wish we had a larger space! Nevertheless, the Holy Father will find thousands of people gathered around him, singing for peace in the world.” With these words, Monsignor Vartan Kirakos Kazanjian, Apostolic Administrator of the Armenian Archdiocese of Istanbul, shared with Vatican media some organizational details of Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic trip to Turkey, scheduled from November 27 to 30. He specifically referred to the Mass at Istanbul’s Volkswagen Arena on Saturday, November 29, which will enthusiastically welcome thousands of faithful, particularly young people.
Monsignor Vartan Kirakos Kazanjian, Apostolic Administrator of the Armenian Archdiocese of Istanbul
Monsignor Kazanjian, you are coordinating Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic trip, and he will soon visit Turkey. How will you welcome the Pope?
We will welcome the Pope with great joy and careful organization. Both the churches and local authorities have done everything possible to ensure a warm reception. We are truly happy that this is his first apostolic visit and that it has an ecumenical focus. It is a joy for us to have our father, the head of our Church, as the greatest ambassador and voice for peace in the world today. We hope it will bear many fruits.
Among the many events the Holy Father will attend, one in particular is scheduled for November 28: a visit to Iznik, where there will be an ecumenical prayer meeting to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. Can you tell us more about this meeting?
This will first and foremost be a prayer meeting. Twenty representatives from twenty Christian communities will participate, beginning with the Holy Father representing the Catholic Church. Then there will be the largest local church, the Greek Orthodox Church and Patriarchate, followed by the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Patriarchates of Antioch and Alexandria, and several Evangelical and Protestant communities. The prayer will take place on a platform on Lake Iznik, at the site of the ancient city of Nicaea, where the emperor had invited all the bishops.
Another ecumenical meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 30, with His Holiness Bartholomew I at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as a visit to the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate of Turkey.
On Sunday, the Holy Father will begin with a visit to the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul, where he will meet His Beatitude Patriarch Sahak II Mashalian, who also represents the Catholicos of Echmiadzin, Karekin II. This meeting will last half an hour, after which the Pope will move to the Greek Patriarchate in Fener. Pope Leo XIV will participate in the Divine Eucharist celebrated by Patriarch Bartholomew I for the Feast of Saint Andrew. After the celebration, a lunch is planned, followed by the Pope’s departure from Istanbul to Lebanon, the second stop of his trip.
Many young people are eagerly awaiting the Mass with Pope Leo XIV at Istanbul’s Volkswagen Arena.
Regarding the Mass at the Volkswagen Arena, which will bring together the global Catholic community in a celebration around the Holy Father, what can you tell us?
This Mass, as in all apostolic trips, represents a focal moment where the Holy Father meets the local community and celebrates with them. The papal entourage and local church authorities will be present, especially Catholic leaders. An important detail, if I may, is the presence of young people who have gathered to meet this “man of peace” bringing a message of peace to the world. Currently, 120 young volunteers have registered specifically to work for peace. We are discussing with their coordinators how the Mass can be more than the end of their service. We hope to make this celebration a founding moment for a youth movement for peace.
Another detail is the large choir, consisting of 250 people from all Christian minorities in Istanbul, both Catholic and non-Catholic. There will also be long-term residents of Istanbul, including Armenian Apostolics and Armenian Catholics, forming a single choir to sing Armenian hymns together. A small Syriac Catholic choir will perform traditional melodies specific to their church, as well as a Chaldean choir with their traditional hymns. Finally, another large choir of 110 people will sing in multiple languages and accompany the celebration of the Mass in the Latin rite.
Robert Attarian – Vatican City