Pope Leon is expected by Erdogan in Ankara

Pope Leoni XIV has met with Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday at the first stop of his first tour abroad.

Later Thursday he will go to Istanbul for three days of interreligious meetings, which will be followed by the Lebanese part of his trip.

Leo's visit comes as Turkey -- a country of more than 85 million people, mostly Sunnis Muslims -- has presented itself as a key mediator in peace negotiations for the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Ankara has organised low-level negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and has offered to participate in the stabilising force in Gaza to help preserve the fragile ceasefire. /Periscopi/