Pope’s gift of peace for Turkey
POPE FRANCIS gave a symbol of peace as a gift to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, yesterday as Turkish forces continued their military offensive against Kurds in Syria.
The Pope and Mr Erdogan had a 50-minute meeting behind closed doors, during which they discussed Syria, refugees in the Middle East and the Trump administration’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, which they both oppose.
The Pope gave Mr Erdogan a bronze medallion showing an angel embracing the world while battling a dragon. “This is the angel of peace who strangles the demon of war,” he told the president, whose forces are accused of human rights abuses in northern Syria.
As the meeting took place, Kurdish protesters clashed with riot police about half a mile from the Vatican.