Pope Leo warns that conflicts are endangering humanity

admin Published: November 27, 2025 | Updated: November 27, 2025 4 minutes read

By Christopher Lamb, Sana Noor Haq, CNN

Ankara, Turkey (CNN) — Pope Leo XIV warned of “conflict on the global level” in an impassioned address to civic leaders and lawmakers in Turkey, against the backdrop of several wars in the region.

“We are now experiencing a phase marked by heightened level of conflict on the global level, fueled by prevailing strategies of economic and military power. This is enabling what Pope Francis called a Third World War fought piecemeal,” Leo told the assembly at the Presidential Palace in Ankara.

Leo arrived in Ankara – where he was greeted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – on Thursday for a six-day trip which includes Lebanon. He was expected to emphasize the key themes of his fledgling pontificate, and follow in the footsteps of his predecessor Francis, who used his platform to draw attention to conflicts around the world.

Leo issued a stark assessment of the world order being destabilized by “ambitions and choices that trample on justice and peace” Thursday, on his first diplomatic tour abroad since becoming the leader of the Catholic world in May.

“We must in no way give in to this,” the first American pope said. “The future of humanity is at stake.”

Erdogan echoed that Leo’s visit to Ankara came at a “highly critical time” amid wars in the region, referencing Israeli forces’ ongoing attacks in Gaza, and a deadly Israeli strike on the only Catholic church in the Palestinian enclave in July.

He praised Leo’s “strong stance” on advocating for Palestinian dignity and human rights. “The ceasefire reached in Gaza must be reinforced, the safety of civilians must be guaranteed, and humanitarian aid much reach Gaza without any interruptions,” Erdogan told diplomatic leaders.

Earlier Thursday, Leo wished Americans a happy Thanksgiving on board his papal plane and thanked journalists for their work as he traveled to Turkey.

“To the Americans here, happy Thanksgiving,” Leo said as he greeted reporters flying from Rome.

Leo thanked journalists “for the service that you offer,” adding that “it’s so important today that the message be transmitted in a way that really reveals the truth and harmony that the world needs.”

Focus on ‘unity’ and ‘peace’

His visit to Turkey and Lebanon, Leo said, is focused on “unity” and “peace,” and “to look for the ways all men and women can surely be brothers and sisters in spite of differences, in spite of different religions, in spite of different beliefs.”

After touching down in the Turkish capital, Leo met Erdogan at the Presidential Palace on Thursday afternoon local time. The pope emerged from a black car and stepped onto a blue carpet, before shaking hands with Erdogan at the palace entrance.

Leo is visiting two countries with a majority Muslim population but that are home to ancient Christian communities. His visit to Beirut comes several days after bombing by Israel’s military on the Lebanese capital.

On board the plane, Leo greeted each of the roughly 80 journalists on board individually, including CNN, after receiving gifts of two pumpkin pies and a pecan pie, traditional Thanksgiving desserts. As he received the dishes, Leo said he planned to share some of the pumpkin pies.

Among the other gifts presented to the pope were a baseball bat once used by Nellie Fox, the legendary Chicago White Sox baseball player – which is Leo’s team – and some White Sox slippers and socks.

Leo, a keen Wordle player, recently revealed that he opts for a different starter word of the popular online puzzle game each day. When asked by the Associated Press how he had got on today, Leo said he had completed the puzzle in three attempts.

Before he circulated among reporters, the pope was also greeted by Mexican journalist Valentina Alazraki, whose first papal flight was in 1979 with John Paul II. Alazraki stressed that although Leo might feel like he’s going into the lion’s den by meeting journalists he had “nothing to fear.” She presented him with an icon of the Virgin of Guadalupe, beloved by Catholics from across North and South America.

The first day of Leo’s trip also saw him lay a wreath at Ataturk’s mausoleum, the resting place of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of Turkey.

He departed Ankara for Istanbul later Thursday, after visiting the Diyanet, the Presidency of Religious Affairs in Turkey, and meeting the country’s chief rabbi.

Although a constitutionally secular state, Turkey has a predominantly Muslim population and is home to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who is considered the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church and has his headquarters in Istanbul.

Leo is due to meet with him on Friday and take part in celebrations of an important church landmark: the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which formulated core Christian beliefs. The celebrations are taking place in modern-day Iznik, northwestern Turkey, where the council was held in 325 AD.