Pope Francis started his visit to Turkey Nov. 28, the Turkish news channel TRT Haber said.Reportedly, after an official meeting at the airport, a delegation led by the pope will visit the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first president of Turkey. Francis will then meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the new presidential palace.
It is also scheduled to hold meetings with the Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and the Head of the Religious Affairs Directorate Mehmet Gormez.
TRT Haber said that on Saturday, Pope Francis will depart for Istanbul, where he will visit the Hagia Sophia mosque-museum, which is also considered one of the Christian holy places. It is expected that the pope will visit the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, which is the central mosque of Istanbul also.
Francis is the fourth pope, to visit Turkey.