The Vatican spokesman told journalists Thursday “there is no official information to be communicated nor a program yet established on a possible apostolic trip to Turkey.”
He also said the Vatican had not received “any official response from the Turkish government.” But he said if the Pope does make the visit, which would be on the invitation of the Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, “it is clear that an ecumenical stop will be planned in Istanbul.”
Reports this week appeared to confirm the Holy Father would be visiting the country in November after Turkey’s newly elected president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, extended a formal invitation to Francis, and the Turkish Embassy to the Holy See reportedly confirmed Tuesday that the Pope had accepted.
Reports speculated the Pope would also visit Iraqi refugees on the Turkish border.
