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

c. 2014 Religion News Service

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 November 28.