The Presidential Palace, consisting of a main building and two auxiliary buildings used for meetings with heads of state and visiting dignitaries, stands in the Beştepe district and was inaugurated in 2014, replacing the historic Çankaya Palace. Pope Francis was the first to be received in the new Presidential Palace, on November 28, 2014.
Before receiving the name Külliye, meaning “complex,” the Palace was known as Ak Saray (“White Palace”). It covers an area of 300,000 m². Inspired by Seljuk architecture, the new Presidential Palace has at least 1,150 rooms. In 2016, the complex was bombed during the failed coup attempt.
The President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Istanbul, February 26, 1954), studied at a madrasa (Islamic religious school) and graduated from Marmara University. Elected Mayor of Istanbul (1994) with the Islamic Welfare Party, he was later removed from office and imprisoned for taking an Islamist stance (1998). Founder and leader of the AKP, the “Justice and Development Party,” of moderate Islamic inspiration (2001), he won three consecutive legislative elections (2002, 2007, 2011) and served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2014. Elected the 12th President on August 28, 2014, he is currently serving his third term as Head of State. Married to Mrs. Emine, he has four children. On the night of July 15, 2016, a military coup attempt was launched in Türkiye against Erdoğan’s government. The coup failed within a single day.
The Pope is escorted by the cavalry to the main entrance gate of the Presidential Palace, where he is received by the President of the Republic. Together they proceed to the podium.
• Anthems
• 21-gun salute
• Honors to the flags
• Guard of Honor
• Presentation of the respective Delegations
• Official photo at the entrance of the Presidential Palace
