Turkey’s Erdogan seeks unity with Pope Francis against acts that mock sacred values

On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a conversation with Pope Francis regarding the inappropriate exhibition at the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony.

Erdogan’s office released a statement highlighting his call for a collective response to actions that mock sacred beliefs.

During their phone discussion, he expressed concern that human dignity was being compromised and that both religious and moral values were being derided, which he noted was offensive not only to Muslims but also to Christians.

The ceremony featured drag queens prominently, celebrating the vibrant presence of the French LGBTQ community.

However, it also faced backlash due to a scene resembling Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting, The Last Supper, where drag queens and other performers were arranged in a way reminiscent of Jesus and his disciples.

In recent years, Erdogan has taken a firm stance against the LGBTQ community, and he communicated to the pope the importance of uniting their voices to oppose these issues, as stated in a recent announcement.

The Turkish president, whose political party is influenced by Islamic principles, frequently refers to LGBTQ individuals as immoral and a threat to conventional family values. Additionally, pride parades have been prohibited in Turkey since 2015.