Vatican City, Feb 5, 2018 / 13:00 pm
On Monday, Pope Francis and the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, met at the Vatican, discussing the situation in the Middle East, in particular the status of Jerusalem, and the need for peace and stability in the region.
According to a Feb. 5 Vatican communique, the "cordial discussions," which lasted around 50 minutes, highlighted "the need to promote peace and stability in the [Middle East] through dialogue and negotiation, with respect for human rights and international law."
The two also discussed the bilateral relations between Turkey and the Holy See and the condition of the Catholic community in the country, as well as the challenges of receiving refugees and the efforts being made in this regard, the communique stated.
This was the second meeting between the two leaders and the first time a Turkish president has visited a pope in 59 years. The first meeting between Francis and Erdo?an occurred Nov. 28, 2014, during the Pope's three-day visit to Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey.