Pope Francis asked to avoid Turkey’s lavish 1,000-room presidential palace

[hrmjustin]

Josephine McKenna

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis’ penchant for austerity and humility will face a diplomatic challenge when he visits Turkey’s new ostentatious presidential palace on his first visit to the country later this month.

Francis will be the first foreign dignitary to be welcomed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the new 1,000-room palace when he visits Ankara on Nov. 28.

Turkish architects have written to the pope urging him not to go to the palace built by Erdogan and known locally as the “White Palace.”

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/11/12/pope-francis-asked-avoid-turkeys-lavish-1000-room-presidential-palace/

[Cleita]

1. As compared to the Vatican? eom

[hrmjustin]

2. He doesn't live in the palace. he lives in a small apartment.

[CurtEastPoint]

3. Thank you. I feel bad because it does put him in a quandry.

I read about that palace. How tacky.

[hrmjustin]

4. Yes it does seem out of place for him.

[Cleita]

5. I know that, but he's not condemning the Vatican as ostentatious which

he seems to actually work out of.

[CurtEastPoint]

6. The Vatican belongs to the Church and consequently to the world.

It's pretty much all open to the public. The treasures inside are shared with everyone.

[Cleita]

7. Don't get me wrong. I think the Turkish palace is plain wrong and in the

near future, after a civil war or coup, it will become a museum too and shared with the public. That is if it isn't bombed to smithereens first. The Pope doesn't need to stay there in it in the meantime. He just needs to meet with the President and be diplomatic. He can scold him about the expense and cost to the people. Popes and other religious leaders have been known to do that in the past. Pompous leaders actually expect it.

[No Vested Interest]

8. What goes on in all those rooms? Are they offices, bedrooms, bathrooms,

meeting rooms, social halls?
I can't imagine the what and why.

[rug]

9. Nefarious things.

http://www.dailysabah.com/nation/2014/09/24/new-presidential-palace-set-to-open-in-october

[No Vested Interest]

10. I'm sure you're correct re activities there. Perhaps the Turks

could just drive Papa Francis up to that smaller red-roofed building (lower right) and pretend that's all there is to the Presidential quarters.
He could sign the book and make a quick exit.

[okasha]

12. Surely, with that budget,

they could have engaged a decent architect. The thing's a monstrosity.

[Leontius]

14. And he destroyed a forested park bequeathed by Attaturk to a secular Turkey.

[Leontius]

13. He's has a planned 250 room addition as a personal presidential residence.

[No Vested Interest]

15. No one needs 250 rooms. What will they be-

walk-in closets for a harem?

[goldent]

11. There are a lot of lavish governmental palaces

It's unfortunate but I think if the Pope accepted an invitation to Turkey then he should go.