President Erdoğan holds phone call with the Pope
While the 'Last Supper' tableau at the Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony sparked controversy, President Erdoğan had previously stated he would call the Pope regarding the matter. Today, Erdoğan held a phone conversation with Pope Francis.
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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone call with the spiritual leader of Catholics, Pope Francis. According to a statement from the Directorate of Communications, Erdoğan addressed the events that took place during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris.
The Directorate of Communications issued the following statement regarding the Erdoğan-Pope meeting:
'WHERE HUMAN DIGNITY IS TRAMPLED AND RELIGIOUS AND MORAL VALUES ARE MOCKED'...
Our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, held a phone conversation with the Spiritual Leader of Catholic Christians and Head of State of the Vatican, Pope Francis.
During the meeting, President Erdoğan stated that the immoral displays exhibited during a portion of the Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony had caused outrage and sparked reactions.
President Erdoğan said that under the guise of freedom of expression and tolerance, human dignity is being trampled upon and religious and moral values are being mocked, adding that this offends Muslims as much as it does the Christian world, and that he believes it is necessary to raise voices together and adopt a common stance against these actions.
'ALARM BELLS OF MORAL DECAY'
President Erdoğan also noted that challenging religious values and engaging in deviant propaganda at the Olympic Games, which are organized with the aim of uniting people, are alarm bells for the moral decay into which the world is being dragged.
During the meeting, President Erdoğan stated that Israel's attacks in Gaza have turned into genocide, that a serious humanitarian crisis is unfolding, and that Israel is carrying out its massacres under the diplomatic, economic, and military umbrella provided to it by certain states.
ISMAIL HANIYEH AND LEBANON ATTACKS
President Erdoğan said that the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh and the attack on Lebanon have once again revealed that Israel is a threat to the entire region, the world, and humanity, and that an alliance of humanity must act without delay to ensure peace for Muslims and Christians living in Palestine.
President Erdoğan expressed his belief that, before permanent damage is done to the political, security, and social structure of the region and the world, it would be beneficial for Pope Francis to hold talks with countries supporting Israel to stop the attacks and ensure lasting peace.
During the meeting, Pope Francis thanked President Erdoğan for his efforts for peace and for his sensitivity regarding the degradation of religious values.