ISTANBUL, Turkey — Pope Leo XIV commenced an intensive day of diplomatic and spiritual engagements in Istanbul on Saturday with a symbolically significant visit to the iconic Blue Mosque. The pontiff, following traditions established by his predecessors, toured the magnificent Ottoman-era mosque accompanied by Turkey’s head of religious affairs, who explained the architectural details including its soaring tiled dome and intricate Arabic inscriptions.
The visit generated particular attention regarding interfaith prayer protocols. Imam Asgin Tunca of the Blue Mosque revealed he had extended an invitation for the Pope to worship within the sacred space, describing it as ‘Allah’s house.’ While the Pope respectfully declined to pray, he expressed appreciation for the atmosphere and spiritual significance of the mosque, walking through the carpeted interior in white socks after removing his shoes.
Notably absent from the papal itinerary was the Hagia Sophia, the UNESCO World Heritage site whose controversial conversion from museum to mosque in 2020 drew international criticism, including from the Vatican. This omission highlighted the delicate diplomatic balance of the visit.
The day’s agenda progressed with a private meeting with Turkey’s Christian leaders at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem, followed by ecumenical prayers with Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, at the patriarchal Church of Saint George.
The visit built upon Friday’s historic gathering in Iznik, where Pope Leo joined Christian leaders at the site of the A.D. 325 Council of Nicaea to mark its 1,700th anniversary. Standing among the ancient ruins, the religious leaders recited the Nicaean Creed—the foundational statement of Christian faith produced by the original council that remains universally accepted across most Christian denominations.
The Pope emphasized the urgent need to ‘overcome the scandal of divisions’ and nurture unity, particularly during times ‘marked by many tragic signs’ threatening human dignity. This gathering represented a significant moment in the centuries-long effort to reunite Christianity, bringing together Catholic, Orthodox, and other Christian representatives at the very location where their shared creed originated when Eastern and Western churches were still united.
The visit concluded with a Catholic Mass at Istanbul’s Volkswagen Arena for Turkey’s small Catholic community, numbering approximately 33,000 in a predominantly Sunni Muslim nation of 85 million people.