Pope Leo visited Istanbul’s Blue Mosque on Saturday, stepping inside one of the most iconic sites of the Muslim world. He removed his shoes at the entrance in a gesture of respect. He did not appear to pray.
His visit marked the first time a leader of the Catholic Church entered a Muslim place of worship during his four day trip to Türkiye.
The first United States pope bowed slightly before entering the vast seventeenth century structure. The mosque can hold ten thousand worshippers. Leo toured the building with the imam and the mufti of Istanbul, who explained its architecture and history.
He walked in white socks. He smiled often during the twenty minute visit. He exchanged light jokes with the lead muezzin, who performs the daily calls to prayer. The exchange drew attention to the informal mood of the moment during a tightly watched trip.
As the group left the building, the pope noticed that he was being guided through a door marked with a sign that read no exit. Leo mentioned the sign with a smile. The muezzin replied that he could stay in the mosque if he wished.
The Vatican said the visit took place in a spirit of reflection and listening. It highlighted the pope’s respect for the site and the faith of those who gather there. The mosque, formally named for Sultan Ahmed the First, is covered with thousands of blue ceramic tiles, giving rise to its popular name.
Leo did not visit the nearby Hagia Sophia. The decision marked a departure from previous papal trips. The former Byzantine cathedral stood as one of Christianity’s most significant houses of worship for nearly a thousand years. It was later used as a mosque during the Ottoman Empire. It became a museum in the twentieth century before being turned back into a mosque in 2020 by President Tayyip Erdogan.
The Vatican has not offered comment on Leo’s decision. The late Pope Francis voiced sadness in 2020 when the Hagia Sophia became a mosque again during his papacy.
Leo chose mainly Muslim Türkiye as his first overseas destination. The trip marks the one thousand seven hundredth anniversary of the early Church council held in the city. That gathering produced the Nicene Creed, a foundation of Christian belief still used today.
At a ceremony on Friday, the pope met Christian leaders from across the Middle East. He condemned violence in the name of religion. He urged unity among Christian communities. Speaking to clerics from Türkiye, Egypt, Syria and Israel, Leo said it remained a scandal that the world’s two point six billion Christians were not more united.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and th...
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 4 July, covering the latest developments you need to know....
Armenia's parliament has passed a new law raising the requirements for citizens living abroad to vote in national elections, following concerns over a...
Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said, as Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy i...
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and the United States share a special responsibility for maintaining global security as the world's two largest nuclear powers.
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally expanding its authority and undermining regional stability.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 4 July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Armenia's parliament has passed a new law raising the requirements for citizens living abroad to vote in national elections, following concerns over alleged efforts to influence last month's parliamentary vote through Armenian citizens residing in Russia.
India is investigating a data breach at Tata Electronics that exposed sensitive documents linked to Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, marking the government's first public comments on the incident.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño, warning the climate pattern is likely to drive higher global temperatures and intensify extreme weather in the months ahead.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Eight Buddhist monks were killed and more than 20 others injured after an 11-year-old boy driving his parents' pickup truck ploughed into a religious procession in north-eastern Thailand, police said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and the United States share a special responsibility for maintaining global security as the world's two largest nuclear powers.
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally expanding its authority and undermining regional stability.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 4 July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said, as Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure continued to add pressure to fuel supplies inside Russia.
World Athletics has reaffirmed its decision to keep Russian and Belarusian athletes excluded from international competition, saying there has been no meaningful progress towards peace in Ukraine.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment