Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Pope Francis for “cordial” private talks on Monday, marking the first visit to the Vatican by a Turkish head of state since 1959.
Erdogan and the pontiff “spoke about the situation in Turkey, the condition of the Catholic community, efforts to accommodate refugees and the challenges linked to this,” the Vatican said in a statement after the audience.
“Attention then turned to the situation in the Middle East, with particular reference to the status of Jerusalem,” it added.
Despite previous disagreements, the two leaders found common ground on Jerusalem after the US unilaterally recognized the city as the capital of Israel.
Read more: Turkey’s Erdogan at the Vatican: A visit at a difficult time
“The status of Jerusalem is a central issue for both Muslims and Christians; both the pope and myself are committed to protecting the status quo,” said Erdogan in an interview published by Italian newspaper La Stampa on Sunday.
“No nation in the world has a right to take unilateral steps on a city which is dear to billions of people, ignoring international laws.”
‘Angel of peace’ as a gift for Erdogan
Previously, it was speculated that the pope and Erdogan would also discuss the situation in Syria during the private portion of the meet. In a controversial move last month,Turkey launched an offensive against Kurdish forces in Afrin near the Turkish border.
Pope Francis also presented Erdogan with a bronze medallion depicting an angel embracing the Earth’s northern and southern hemispheres and defending them from a dragon.
“This is the angel of peace who strangles the demon of war,” the pope told Erdogan. “(It is) a symbol of a world based on peace and justice.”
At the end of the meet, Erdogan said he hoped that pope would keep him in his prayers.
For more read the full of article at The Dw
