Pope Leo XIV invited Turkey’s small Catholic community on Friday to see their small size not as a weakness but as a privileged way of living the Gospel, urging them to embrace what he called the “logic of littleness” at the heart of God’s plan.
The pope spoke at a prayer meeting in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul on Nov. 28, addressing bishops, priests, religious, pastoral workers, and lay faithful from across the country. Catholics in Turkey account for only a fraction of a percent of the nation’s roughly 85 million people, making them one of the smallest Catholic communities in the region.
A small Church in a land of deep Christian roots
Pope Leo situated his message within the long history of Christianity in today’s Türkiye, which he called a place where the story of Israel and the beginnings of the Church meet in a singular way. He recalled Abraham leaving Harran in answer to God’s call, the first Christian communities in Antioch—where the disciples were first named “Christians” (Acts 11:26)—and the witness of St. Paul and St. John in cities such as Antioch and Ephesus.
He also pointed to the enduring role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, led by Patriarch Bartholomew I, which continues to serve as a key point of reference for Greek Orthodox and other Eastern Christians, even as Catholic communities of Latin and Eastern rites live alongside them in a predominantly Muslim society.
This rich past, the pope cautioned, cannot be treated merely as a museum piece or nostalgic memory of vanished influence. Instead, he urged Christians to look at their present circumstances with what he called an “evangelical vision,” allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate their situation today.
‘When we look with God’s eyes…’
At the heart of his homily, Pope Leo invited his listeners to adopt God’s own perspective on the Church’s apparent fragility.
“When we look with God’s eyes, we discover that he has chosen the way of littleness, descending into our midst,” he said, evoking the prophets’ image of a fragile shoot, the tiny mustard seed, and the “little ones” praised by Jesus in the Gospel.
He went on to insist that “this logic of littleness is the Church’s true strength. It does not lie in her resources or structures,” nor in numbers, wealth, or social standing. The Church, he said, lives from “the light of the Lamb” and is constantly sent out into the world by the Holy Spirit.
Quoting Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Lk 12:32), Pope Leo encouraged the Catholic minority in Turkey to cultivate a hopeful spirit and to measure their fruitfulness not by statistics but by fidelity to Christ.
He pointed to the increasing number of young people approaching the Catholic Church with questions and a desire for accompaniment as one of the most promising signs of new life, urging local communities to continue their patient work of listening, guidance, and catechesis.
Mission among youth, migrants, and neighbors of other faiths
The pope outlined several concrete priorities for the Church in Turkey. He called for renewed commitment to passing on the faith to local communities, deepening ecumenical ties with other Christians, and strengthening interreligious relations, especially with Muslims and Jews.
He placed particular emphasis on pastoral care for refugees and migrants, many of whom are among the country’s most vulnerable. The Catholic Church in Turkey, he noted, is itself composed largely of people who have arrived from other countries, including many priests, religious, and lay workers. This reality, he said, demands a serious effort at inculturation so that the Turkish language, customs, and culture become “more and more your own,” allowing the Gospel to be communicated in a way that truly speaks to the people of the land.
Nicaea’s questions and a ‘new Arianism’
Looking beyond the immediate community, Pope Leo recalled that the first eight ecumenical councils were held on the soil of present-day Turkey. Marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, he said that gathering still confronts Christians with essential questions: What lies at the heart of our faith? Who is Jesus Christ for us today? And how should we express Church teaching so that it can be heard within contemporary culture without losing its substance?
He warned against what he called a “new Arianism” in today’s world: a subtle attitude that admires Jesus as a great teacher, prophet, or champion of justice but fails to acknowledge him as “the living and true God among us,” Lord of history and Son of the Father. Such a view, he said, empties the Gospel of its heart and reduces Christ to one inspiring figure among many.
‘Courageous fishermen in the Lord’s boat’
Toward the end of his address, Pope Leo turned to the example of St. John XXIII, who served in Turkey as a papal representative before becoming pope and frequently wrote of his affection for its people. He recalled John’s vivid description of fishermen on the Bosporus who continued their work late into the night, even in heavy rain, guided by the faint light of their lamps and the voice of their leaders.
Drawing on that image, Pope Leo invited Turkey’s Catholics to persevere with the same quiet dedication—working joyfully, patiently, and bravely “in the Lord’s boat,” sustained by the joy of faith and the intercession of Mary, the Theotokos.
The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, where this meeting took place, dates to the mid-19th century and preserves relics of some of the earliest popes, including St. Linus. In its courtyard stands a monument to Pope Benedict XV, erected in gratitude for his efforts to aid those suffering during the First World War, honoring him as a benefactor who served all peoples without distinction.
In Istanbul, surrounded by a “little flock” with ancient roots and a modest public profile, the pope’s message was clear: in God’s plan, smallness is not an obstacle but the very path by which the kingdom quietly grows.
