Turkey Pope visits the Blue Mosque in Istanbul
Pope Leo XIV visited the Sultan Ahmet Mosque in Istanbul as part of his visit to Turkey. The head of the state religious authority Diyanet received the head of the Catholic Church in the Islamic place of worship, also known as the Blue Mosque, in the center of the metropolis. In accordance with regulations, Leo entered the building without shoes. The visit took place under high security precautions.
29.11.2025, 08:47
29.11.2025, 09:15
SDA
The Sultan Ahmet Mosque is one of the most famous mosques in Istanbul and one of the most important mosques in the Islamic world. It is located in the immediate vicinity of Hagia Sophia. However, unlike his two predecessors Benedict XVI (2006) and Francis (2014), Leo will not visit the latter during his visit to Turkey. The former cathedral was converted into a mosque in 2020 after having been a museum since 1934.
The Vatican had previously announced that Leo would take a "brief moment of silent prayer" in the Blue Mosque. However, it was initially unclear whether this had actually happened. After the visit to the mosque, the Vatican said: "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 to pray."
Benedict XVI and Francis both paused for a moment of silent prayer during their visits to the Islamic place of worship. In 2014, for example, Francis caused a stir when he bowed his head towards Mecca, demonstratively showing his respect for Islam.
