Pope Leo XIV opened his first full day in Turkiye on Friday by meeting with its tiny Catholic community, greeted by cheers and applause as he embarked on a day meant to bolster Christians around the world and pursue their centuries-old quest for unity.

Shouts of `Papa Leo` and `Viva il Papa` (Long Live the pope) erupted along with cheering and clapping inside and outside Istanbul`s Cathedral of the Holy Spirit as Leo arrived to begin the first full day of his first trip as pope.