Pope Leo visits Blue Mosque in Turkiye’s Istanbul
Summary
Pope Leo XIV visited the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkiye, during his first trip as the leader of the Catholic Church to a place of Muslim worship. He took a tour of the mosque without participating in prayers, highlighting a gesture of respect and reflection. The visit is part of a longer trip that includes stops in Turkiye and Lebanon.Key Facts
- Pope Leo XIV visited the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, known officially as Sultan Ahmed Mosque.
- This is his first visit as pope to a Muslim place of worship.
- The mosque can hold 10,000 worshippers.
- Pope Leo did not pray inside the mosque but toured it with its imam and the mufti of Istanbul.
- The Vatican stated the visit was done with respect and in a spirit of reflection.
- The visit is part of Pope Leo's first overseas trip as pontiff, which also includes Lebanon.
- The Blue Mosque is named after Sultan Ahmed I and is decorated with blue ceramic tiles.
- Pope Leo's visit did not include the nearby Hagia Sophia, which now functions as a mosque again since 2020.
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