pontiff

The US pontiff is currently visiting Turkey as part of his first trip abroad as leader of the Catholic Church.

The hope is that the pontiff can help break the logjam.

It is a chance for him to set out his spiritual and geopolitical vision after six months as pontiff, notable for its relative quiet after years of turbulence in the Catholic Church.

Since being made pope in May, the Chicago-born pontiff -- who spent about 20 years as a missionary in Peru -- has urged more pressure on governments to stop climate change.

“If conceived as an alternative to humans,” the pontiff said, the technology “can gravely violate their infinite dignity and neutralize their fundamental responsibilities.”