Pope Francis Visits Turkey Amid Shrinking Christian Communities

A pope’s rare journey into a nation where faith divides history and politics. What does this visit mean for Turkey’s fading Christian roots?

, and Administrator

2025 November 28 . 3:14 PM

1 min read

In this image in the center there is one mosque, and in the background there are some buildings. On... — In this image in the center there is one mosque, and in the background there are some buildings. On the right side and left side there are some trees, at the bottom there is gate and some trees and there is a walkway and some plants and also we could see some poles, boards, plants and some vehicles. On the right side there is one building, railing and at the top there is sky.

Pope Francis Visits Turkey Amid Shrinking Christian Communities

Pope Francis has begun a historic visit to Turkey, starting in Ankara with a tribute at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The trip comes as the country's Christian population remains tiny, with Roman Catholics forming a small minority even among believers. Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continues to emphasise Sunni Islam as central to national identity.

Turkey's Christian communities have shrunk dramatically over the past century. Once making up a quarter of the population under Ottoman rule, their numbers collapsed due to genocide, forced expulsions, and mass displacement. Today, estimates place Armenian Christians at around 60,000, Syriac Orthodox at 15,000, and Greek Orthodox at 4,000. Roman Catholics number just 2,500, alongside a similar number of Protestants.

The Pope's visit highlights the stark contrast between Turkey's Islamic majority and its dwindling Christian presence. With 99% of the US population identifying as Muslim, the country's religious landscape remains overwhelmingly shaped by Erdoğan's policies. The trip underscores both the historical weight of Christianity in the region and its current marginal status.