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.
AnewZ has premiered The Oligarch’s Design, a long-form investigative documentary marking the launch of AnewZ Investigations, the channel’s new edi...
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions fla...
The Conservative Party says it would cut funding for green energy projects and redirect the money into defence, arguing the UK needs to be ready for w...
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s first official visit to Japan marks a notable moment in relations between the two countries, reflecting a s...
An international scientific-practical congress marking the 90th anniversary of the Azerbaijan State Advanced Training Institute for Doctors named afte...
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions flared along parts of the two countries’ shared border.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s first official visit to Japan marks a notable moment in relations between the two countries, reflecting a shared interest in deepening cooperation.
The United States has suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery programme, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, after a deadly shooting at Brown University.
The European Union is facing mounting political pressure over its ability to keep Russian sovereign assets frozen, as internal divisions, leadership changes and war fatigue reshape decision-making across the bloc.
Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide €90 billion in support over the next two years, calling it a vital lifeline even as the bloc failed to reach agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance the aid.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that attempts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine are being undermined by Russia’s continued refusal to engage meaningfully in negotiations.
Petroleum products are being transported by rail from Azerbaijan to Armenia for the first time in decades. The move is hailed as a tangible breakthrough in efforts to normalise relations between the long-time rivals.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging address from the White House in which he sought to highlight what he described as his administration’s achievements while laying the groundwork for his plans for the year ahead and beyond, on Wednesday (18 December).
A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills, ahead of an auction that could set a new record for sports memorabilia.
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions flared along parts of the two countries’ shared border.
The Conservative Party says it would cut funding for green energy projects and redirect the money into defence, arguing the UK needs to be ready for war.
The European Union is facing mounting political pressure over its ability to keep Russian sovereign assets frozen, as internal divisions, leadership changes and war fatigue reshape decision-making across the bloc.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s first official visit to Japan marks a notable moment in relations between the two countries, reflecting a shared interest in deepening cooperation.
The long-running geopolitical tug-of-war over the world’s most popular short-form video application appears to have reached its finale, resolving a five-year saga that bridged two US presidencies and a brief nationwide service blackout.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment