Pope Leo XIV Visits Istanbul's Blue Mosque and Meets with Patriarch Bartholomew

Pope Leo XIV, on his inaugural international trip, visited Istanbul's Blue Mosque on Saturday. Unlike his predecessors, he chose not to pray inside the mosque, opting instead for a respectful tour accompanied by local religious leaders. The Vatican later clarified that the visit was conducted "in a spirit of contemplation and listening, with deep respect for the place and the faith of those who gather there in prayer."

Following the mosque visit, Pope Leo met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George. Together, they signed a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to Christian unity and rejecting the use of religion to justify violence. The declaration also expressed a shared desire to explore a common date for celebrating Easter, aiming to strengthen ties between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

The pope's itinerary did not include a visit to the Hagia Sophia, a site previously visited by his predecessors. The building was converted back into a mosque in 2020, a move that had drawn criticism from the Vatican.

Pope Leo's visit to Turkey marks the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, underscoring his mission to promote peace and unity among Christian denominations and engage in interfaith dialogue.

The trip also included a Mass at Istanbul's Volkswagen Arena, attended by approximately 4,000 people, where the pope encouraged Turkey's small Catholic community to build connections with other faiths.

Pope Leo is scheduled to continue his journey to Lebanon, where he plans to address the country's economic and humanitarian challenges and advocate for peace in the region.