Pope Leo reminds Turkish Catholic minority of the \u2018logic of littleness\u2019 Pope Leo XIV encouraged Turkey\u2019s small Catholic community Friday to rediscover what he called the Gospel\u2019s \u201clogic of littleness,\u201d urging them not to be discouraged by their tiny numbers but to recognize in them the strength of authentic Christian witness. The pope addressed bishops, priests, religious, pastoral workers, and laypeople at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul on his second day in the country. Catholics in Turkey make up roughly 0.05% of the nation\u2019s 85 million people. Calling Turkey a \u201choly land\u201d where the Old and New Testaments meet, the pope recalled the deep Christian roots of the region: Abraham\u2019s journey through Harran, the early Christian communities in Antioch and Ephesus, and the long and influential history of Byzantine Christianity. He noted in particular that the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, currently led by Patriarch Bartholomew I, remains \u201ca point of reference\u201d both for its Greek faithful and for other Orthodox Churches. The pope warned Christians not to treat this heritage merely as a memory of past greatness. Instead, he urged them to adopt \u201can evangelical vision\u201d that sees their present reality through the Holy Spirit\u2019s light. \u201cWhen we look with God\u2019s eyes, we discover that he has chosen the way of littleness,\u201d he said, pointing to the mustard seed, the little ones praised by Jesus, and the quiet growth of the kingdom of God. The Church\u2019s true strength, he explained, \u201cdoes not lie in her resources or structures,\u201d nor in numbers or influence, but in remaining gathered around Christ and sent by the Holy Spirit. Quoting Jesus\u2019 words, \u201cDo not be afraid, little flock,\u201d the pope encouraged Christians in Turkey to cultivate hope. He pointed to the growing number of young people approaching the Catholic Church as a sign of promise and asked communities to continue welcoming and accompanying them. He urged particular dedication to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, the transmission of the faith to local communities, and pastoral service to refugees and migrants\u2014many of whom are among the most vulnerable people in the country. The pope also noted that many Catholics in Turkey come from abroad, a reality that calls for a deeper process of inculturation so that the language and culture of the country become \u201cmore and more your own.\u201d The pope highlighted Turkey\u2019s unique role in the history of the Church, recalling that the first eight ecumenical councils were held on its soil. Marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, he said the council continues to pose three questions to Christians today: What is the essence of the faith? Who is Jesus for us? And how should doctrine be expressed in ways that speak to contemporary culture? He warned against what he described as a \u201cnew Arianism,\u201d a version of the heresy that divided Christianity in its early centuries, that reduces Jesus to a moral teacher or heroic figure while denying his divinity and lordship over history. Before concluding, the pope invoked the memory of St. John XXIII, who served in Turkey and wrote affectionately of its people. Reflecting on the saint\u2019s image of Bosporus fishermen laboring through the night, he encouraged Turkish Catholics to persevere in the same spirit: working faithfully, joyfully, and courageously \u201cin the Lord\u2019s boat.\u201d The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, where the meeting took place, was built in 1846 and houses relics of early popes, including St. Linus. A statue of Pope Benedict XV stands in its courtyard, erected in gratitude for his efforts to help victims of the 1915\u20131918 war. The inscription honors him as a \u201cbenefactor of peoples, without distinction of nationality or religion.\u201d LIVE updates: Follow Pope Leo XIV\u2019s first Apostolic Journey to T\u00fcrkiye (Turkey) and Lebanon This article was originally published by CNA. Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today EWTN Vatican on WhatsApp Elias Turk Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter. More news related to this article Argentina: New book gives Pope Francis\u2019 responses to issues he\u2019s most often asked about Pope Francis asks for prayers for Sudan as military factions battle for control Vatican communication office urges 2-state solution as France backs Palestinian statehood Pope Francis at Gregorian University warns of \u2018Coca-Cola spirituality\u2019 In Powerful Jubilee Message, Pope Points To Mary Magdalene\u2019s Transformative Trust More Than 500,000 People Pass Through St. Peter\u2019s Holy Door After Christmas Opening<\/p>\n