After MHP, BBP also expresses discomfort with the Pope's visit: There is no point in being caught napping

Great Unity Party (BBP) Chairman Mustafa Destici, in a statement made via his social media account, expressed his discomfort with the Pope's visit to Turkey, just like the other partner of the People's Alliance, the MHP.

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After MHP, BBP also expresses discomfort with the Pope's visit: There is no point in being caught napping

While AKP figures continue to share praise regarding the arrival of Pope Leo XIV, who held a mass in Iznik, the partners of the People's Alliance continue to share their discomfort and concerns regarding this visit through their own statements.

Following the reaction statement issued by the MHP, another reaction to this visit came from Great Unity Party Chairman Destici.

Mustafa Destici made the following statement via his social media account:

"The first foreign visit of Leo XIV, the spiritual leader of 1.5 billion Catholics and the Vatican's first American Pope, was to Ankara. Then Istanbul and Iznik...

Let us state clearly as the Great Unity Party: We see that this trip carries not only a 'touristic' but clearly a 'political' and 'theological' meaning.

To evaluate this trip, which proceeds within the Vatican's classic apostolic travel protocol, merely as 'cultural-diplomatic courtesy' or an 'innocent commemorative event' is nothing more than naivety.

We believe that the Iznik visit carries a 'historical,' 'religious,' 'ideological,' and naturally 'political' meaning. Failing to see this and promoting this visit program only as a 'touristic pleasantry' or an 'innocent commemorative event' is either ignorance of history or feigned ignorance!

Iznik has never been a neutral place, and it never will be...

This visit may not be a show of force; but it is definitely a 'reckoning'.

Both a reckoning within the Christian world itself, and a reckoning with our ancient history...

There is no need to panic as a State and Nation, but there is also no point in being caught napping!

We know that history is also written with symbols.

And today, another page is being turned in Iznik. As long as we, as the noble Turkish state and nation, keep our eyes open.

God willing, we will overcome this as well."

The first foreign visit of Leo XIV, the spiritual leader of 1.5 billion Catholics and the Vatican's first American Pope, was to Ankara. Then Istanbul and Iznik...

Let us state clearly as the Great Unity Party: We see that this trip carries not only a 'touristic' but clearly a 'political' and 'theological' meaning...
— Mustafa Destici (@Mustafa_Destici) November 29, 2025