While there is nothing new about the Holy See's frequent advocating for a two-state solution to bring peace to the Holy Land, the Pope's most recent insistence on it, as he was leaving Turkey, again brought international attention.
The Pope offered a few brief words to the press and answered a couple questions on the short flight between Turkey and Lebanon on November 30, telling them that he hoped that they had as "good of a time in Turkey as I did." Vatican News has offered a working transcription, used below.
The Holy Father noted the main point of the trip: marking the 1,700th anniversary of Nicaea, saying it a "magnificent celebration, very simple and yet very profound."
He had lively thanks for President Erdogan, thanking him for the people and means "that he put at our disposition in order to make sure that the trip would be a total success, his personal helicopter ..."
Answering a question from a journalist, he said Turkey's example of coexistence with a Muslim majority and Christian minorities is "one example, I would say, of what I think we all would be looking for throughout the world."
To say that in spite of religious differences, in spite of ethnic differences, in spite of many other differences, people can indeed live in peace. Türkiye itself has had, of course, in its history various moments when it was not always the case, and yet to have experienced that and to have been able to speak also with President Erdogan about peace, I think, was an important element, a worthwhile element of my visit.
Can Turkey help?
Another journalist asked if he had spoken with the Turkish president about Gaza and Ukraine and the Pope replied, "certainly."
The Holy See for several years has publicly supported the proposal of a two-state solution [with Israel and Palestine.] We all know that in this moment Israel still does not accept this solution, but we see it as the only solution that could offer — let us say — a solution to the conflict that they continuously live.
We are also friends of Israel, and we try with the two sides to be a mediating voice that can help draw closer to a solution with justice for all.
I spoke about this with President Erdogan; he is certainly in agreement with this proposal. Türkiye has an important role that it could play in all of this.
The same with Ukraine. Already some months ago, with the possibility of dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, the President helped a lot in convoking the two sides. We still have, unfortunately, not seen a solution, but today again there are concrete proposals for peace. And let us hope that President Erdogan, with his relationship with the Presidents of Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, may help in this sense to promote dialogue, a ceasefire, and to see how to resolve this conflict, this war in Ukraine.
And now for 2033
The Pope also spoke about 2033 as the next big event on the calendar for Christian unity, as an example of "possible future meetings."
One would be in 2033, 2,000 years since the Redemption, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ; that obviously is an event that all Christians want to celebrate. The idea was welcomed; we still haven’t sent the invitation, but the possibility exists to celebrate, perhaps in Jerusalem in 2033, this great event of the Resurrection. There are still years to prepare it.
However, it was a very beautiful encounter, because Christians of different traditions were present and were able to participate in this time.
