In a significant diplomatic gesture, Pope Leo XIV visited Istanbul's historic Blue Mosque on Saturday, though he notably refrained from stopping to pray during his tour. The American pontiff, marking his first official visit as pope, embarked on an intense day of meetings and liturgies with Turkey's Christian leaders, repeatedly stressing the urgent need for Christian unity worldwide.
A Contemplative Visit Without Prayer
The Pope removed his shoes and walked through the magnificent 17th-century mosque in his white socks, carefully observing the soaring tiled domes and intricate Arabic inscriptions that adorn the columns. Imam Asgin Tunca personally guided the pontiff through the sacred space, pointing out significant architectural and religious features.
Despite initial Vatican announcements indicating the Pope would observe a "brief moment of silent prayer" within the mosque, this planned gesture did not materialize. Imam Tunca revealed he had explicitly invited the Pope to pray, reminding him that the mosque was "Allah's house," but Leo XIV politely declined the invitation.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni later clarified the Pope's approach, stating "The pope experienced his visit to the mosque in silence, in a spirit of contemplation and listening, with deep respect for the place and the faith of those who gather there in prayer." The Vatican subsequently issued a corrected version of its official bulletin, removing all references to the planned prayer moment without additional explanation.
Historical Context of Papal Mosque Visits
Pope Leo XIV followed the tradition established by his recent predecessors, all of whom have made high-profile visits to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, commonly known as the Blue Mosque. These visits consistently serve as gestures of respect toward Turkey's Muslim majority, though they invariably raise questions about whether the pontiff will pray within the Islamic house of worship.
The visit recalled Pope Benedict XVI's 2006 trip to Turkey, which occurred during heightened tensions following his controversial Regensburg speech that many Muslims interpreted as linking Islam with violence. Benedict's last-minute addition of the Blue Mosque to his itinerary successfully fostered reconciliation, and he notably observed a moment of silent prayer with head bowed as the imam prayed beside him.
In 2014, Pope Francis left no ambiguity about his intentions when he stood for two minutes of silent prayer facing east with eyes closed and hands clasped. Istanbul's Grand Mufti Rahmi Yaran afterward told Francis, "May God accept it."
Significant Program Changes and Omissions
The Vatican appeared somewhat unprepared for Pope Leo's decision against prayer, having to correct the official record after initially maintaining the planned reference to his pausing for prayer. Another unexpected change involved the absence of Turkey's Diyanet religious affairs directorate head, who was scheduled to accompany the Pope but ultimately did not appear. A Diyanet spokesman clarified he wasn't supposed to attend, having already welcomed Leo in Ankara.
Notably absent from the Pope's itinerary was the nearby Hagia Sophia, which previous popes have consistently visited. The omission carries particular significance given Turkey's controversial July 2020 decision to convert the UNESCO World Heritage site from a museum back into a mosque, a move that drew widespread international criticism including from the Vatican.
Following the mosque visit, Pope Leo held a private meeting with Turkey's Christian leaders at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem. Later in the day, he was scheduled to pray with Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, at the patriarchal church of Saint George, where they planned to sign a joint statement emphasizing Christian unity.
The Pope reminded gathered patriarchs that "division among Christians is an obstacle to their witness" and pointed toward the next Holy Year in 2033, marking the anniversary of Christ's crucifixion. He extended an invitation for them to journey to Jerusalem together on "a journey that leads to full unity."
Pope Leo concluded his day with a Catholic Mass at Istanbul's Volkswagen Arena for Turkey's Catholic community, which numbers approximately 33,000 among the country's predominantly Sunni Muslim population of over 85 million people.
Meanwhile, trip organizers confronted logistical challenges when the Pope's ITA Airways Airbus A320neo charter became entangled in the worldwide Airbus software update mandated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Vatican spokesman Bruni confirmed the necessary component and technician were en route to Istanbul to resolve the issue before the Pope's scheduled Sunday afternoon departure for Beirut, Lebanon.
