By Asbarez | Tuesday, 09 September 2014
Pope Francis
The 77-year-old pontiff’s comments as Gürsoy visited him to bid farewell, as the ambassador is due to leave Rome following the end of his assignment.
Francis is expected to visit the Turkish capital of Ankara on Nov. 29 and then Istanbul, in order to celebrate the feast of Saint Andrew the following day, according to media reports.
He is expected to use the visit to call for an end to the killing of Middle Eastern Christians in Iraq and Syria.
Diplomatic sources said the pope told the Turkish envoy he was looking forward to visiting Turkey, after which he is also expected to visit Armenia.
Francis was originally invited to Turkey earlier this summer by Bartholomew, the Orthodox Patriarch, who had recently travelled to the Vatican from Turkey to take part in prayers for peace between the Argentinian pope and Israeli and Palestinian leaders, according to Rome’s La Repubblica newspaper and diplomatic sources.
The visit is expected to be announced officially once newly-installed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issues a formal invitation to the Roman Catholic leader to come to Turkey.
comments
Aliyev Again Refers to Most of Armenia as Western Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan Blocks Humanitarian Transport To and From Lachin Corridor
#TogetherForSyria Telethon Raises over $110,000 for Armenians In Syria
After Lachin Corridor Blockade, Putin Speaks to Pashinyan and Aliyev
Aliyev Signs Order Declaring Shushi Cultural Capital of Turkic World
Lemkin Institute Voices Support For Artsakh Rights to Self-Determination to Avoid Genocide
Tensions Escalate Between Iran and Azerbaijan
Moscow is Closely Coordinating Peace Treaty with Yerevan and Baku
Aliyev Criticism of Russian Peacekeepers and Iran Elicits Strong Reactions