Turkey (Türkiye): Where East Meets West….
About Turkey (Türkiye):
Ask anyone who has ever visited there and they will tell you what a great experience it was to visit this modern, yet ancient, country. It is also rich in Biblical history and has many interesting sites for Catholic Christians.
The Ottoman Empire (also known as the turkish Empire) had controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th century to the early 20th century. It had also controlled parts of southeastern Central Europe between the early 16th and early 18th centuries. It fell due to a combination of centuries-long decline, including economic struggles, military defeats, internal corruption, and the rise of nationalism among its diverse peoples; the final blow came from siding with the losing Central Powers in World War I, leading to its defeat and partition by the victorious Allies.
Modern Turkey was founded in 1924, after fighting a war of independence resulting in the overthrow of Sultan Mehmed VI by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1922. This new regime delivered the coup de grâce to the Ottoman Empire, which was practically wiped away from the world stage following the First World War.
Under its founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the new Republic of Turkey adopted many Western traditions, including switching from the Arabic alphabet to the Latin alphabet, outlawing polygamy and establishing a secular government. Although he died in 1938, Atatürk remains a popular hero to this day and statues of him abound throughout the country. His influence in turning his country away from the old Ottoman Empire and turning it into a modern state cannot be over-stated.
Among those places in Turkey (Türkiye) of particular interest to Catholics are the following:
There are an estimated 25,000 to 33,000 Catholics in Turkey, making up less than 1% of the population. These numbers include members of various Catholic rites, such as Latin, Chaldean, Armenian, and Syriac, with the community concentrated in major cities like Istanbul.
Five popes have visited Turkey: Pope Paul VI (1967), Pope John Paul II (2001), Pope Benedict XVI (2006), Pope Francis (2014), and the most recent, Pope Leo XIV (2025). These visits have often focused on improving relations with the Eastern Orthodox Church, fostering dialogue with the Muslim majority, and marking Christian anniversaries.
Antioch: the Grotto of Saint Peter
Demre-Kale: Church of Saint Nicholas
Ephesus: The House of the Virgin Mary
Istanbul: Catholic churches in Istanbul
Izmir (formerly Smyrna): One of the seven churches of the Book of Revelation
Iznik: site of the council of Nicea, ancient fresoes of early Christianity
Traveling to Turkey:
An estimated 28 million foreign tourists visit Turkey each year. They encounter a warm, friendly people eager to welcome foreigners. However, recent turmoil in the country, as well as the increasingly autocratic rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, mean that you should be aware of your surroundings at all times. Just use common sense, and it will be a great visit.
Visitors arrive by air on major international carriers or cruise ship. Several major cruise lines offer ports of call in Istanbul and Kusadasi (Ephesus).
Regarding Visas for Turkey: visitors from North America are no longer required to purchase E-visas, according to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.