Pope Calls for Solidarity to Combat ISIS's 'Great Crimes'

Pope Francis, the leader of the world's Catholics, called for an end to all forms of religious extremism in a speech in Turkey on Friday, December 7, stating that the main way to stop the 'great crimes' of Islamic extremists in Syria and Iraq is to combat poverty and hunger, not military intervention. According to Reuters from Ankara, Pope Francis, at the beginning of his three-day trip to Turkey, noted that there are no signs of a decrease in 'terrorist violence' in Turkey's southern neighbors. The Islamic State group has declared a caliphate in areas under its control in Iraq and Syria, suppressing Shiites, Christians, and those who do not agree with its extremely radical interpretation of religion. After meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Pope referred to the Islamic State militants, saying, 'Fighting against a ruthless aggressor, as long as it is based on international law, is always legitimate.' He added, 'What is necessary is a clear commitment among all to direct resources and capabilities not towards weapons, but towards a battle worthy of a real human being, and that battle is against hunger and disease.' Before meeting Erdoğan, Pope Francis visited the tomb of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern, secular Turkey in 1923. Reuters further reports that the Pope's visit to Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country with a secular constitution, is sensitive. The aim of this trip is to establish closer ties with religious leaders while simultaneously condemning violence against Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East. Pope Francis invited religious leaders for interfaith dialogue, stating, 'This is about ending all forms of fundamentalism and terrorism that undermine the dignity of every man and woman and misuse religion.' Turkey has reluctantly joined the international coalition against the Islamic State group and has refused to take on military responsibilities in the battlefield against this group. However, Ankara supports opposition groups against the Syrian regime and calls for the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime. The country hosts nearly two million Syrian refugees, thousands of whom are from the Christian minority. Meanwhile, the Christian minority residing in Turkey has gradually diminished over the past century. Decades of violence, political and economic pressure coinciding with the emergence of the first modern government after the Ottoman Empire and at the end of World War I forced many Christians in Turkey to emigrate. Christians and other religious minorities in Turkey are now concerned about the intensification of Islamic activities under Erdoğan. Pope Francis stated, 'It is a fundamental issue that all Muslim, Jewish, and Christian citizens have equal rights and responsibilities in both the formulation of laws and the enforcement of the law.' On the second day of his trip (Saturday, December 8), the Pope is scheduled to meet with Bartholomew I, the leader of the Orthodox Church in Istanbul. This meeting aims to bring closer the Western (Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) branches of Christianity. While the followers of Bartholomew I are limited to only three thousand in Turkey's 75 million population, his residence in Istanbul remains a legacy of the Byzantine Empire. The number of Christians in Syria was reported to be 10 percent of the total population of 22 million at the beginning of the civil war. The Christian population in Iraq has decreased by 70 percent since the war began in 2003. After Albania and Jordan, Turkey marks Pope Francis's third visit to a predominantly Muslim country. According to reports, the Pope may pray in the Hagia Sophia, which was one of the largest churches in the Christian world for about nine centuries and has been one of the largest mosques for Muslims for about 500 years until it was recently converted into a museum. This action may offend some Muslims who want Hagia Sophia to remain a mosque. Pope Francis, known for his simplicity, has sparked controversy by meeting Erdoğan in Turkey's new presidential palace with a thousand rooms. He has set aside the large papal residence in the Vatican and now lives in a regular house.