site.btaPope Leo XIV Visits Istanbul's Blue Mosque as Gesture of Interfaith Respect, After Call for Unity of Christian World at Nicaea

Under extraordinary security measures, including road closures for motor traffic, low-flying helicopters, and armed patrols, Pope Leo XIV visited on Saturday the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosque for the distinctive Iznik tiles that adorn its interior, as part of his four-day official visit to Turkiye.

On Friday, the Pope and Oecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited the city of Iznik and took part in a joint prayer service at the ruins of the basilica in ancient Nicaea, where the First Council of Christendom was held 1,700 years ago.

Pope Leo XIV is the first head of the Roman Catholic Church ever to visit Iznik. The Holy Father noted that the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea is a moment of great significance and emphasized its importance for the Christian world, the Milliyet newspaper reported.

“Today all humanity, wounded by violence and conflict, cries out for peace and reconciliation,” the Pope said, stressing the “unequivocal” rejection of using religion to justify war, violence, or any form of fundamentalism or fanaticism. Expressing gratitude to Patriarch Bartholomew for marking the anniversary, “Pope Leo XIV delivered a message of reconciliation, unity, and peace,” according to Turkiye’s NTV television.

On Saturday morning, the motorcade, led by the Pope’s car flying the Vatican flag, arrived at the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul’s historic centre. There, the Holy Father was welcomed by Turkish Culture Minister Mehmet Ersoy and Istanbul’s mufti Emrullah Tuncer.

Before entering the mosque, the Pope removed his shoes and stepped inside in white socks, matching the white vestments he wore Saturday, unlike Friday in Iznik, where he appeared with a shoulder-length red cape and a stole.

The Pope and his entourage remained in the Muslim house of worship for about 30 minutes. Istanbul’s mufti recounted the history and functions of the mosque, which he described as “the most visited by foreign tourists and visible from every point in the metropolis.”

After the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Pope Leo XIV visited the Mor Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church in the Yesilkoy borough. The church is known as the first Orthodox Christian church built in modern Turkish history and was inaugurated in 2023 for the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkiye. The Oecumenical Patriarch accompanied the Pope during this visit.

A meeting was also held between the Pope and leaders of local churches and Christian communities in Istanbul, the website Arti Gercek reported.

In the afternoon, the Holy Father’s program continues with a visit to the Oecumenical Patriarchate in the Fener quarter near the Golden Horn. A ceremonial welcome will take place in the patriarchal cathedral. A Joint Declaration is expected to be signed by Pope Leo XIV and Oecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, followed by a private meeting between the two.

The visit to the Patriarchate is expected to be attended by Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria, prominent representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, and other high-ranking officials from Turkiye and abroad who have come specifically for the occasion.

Later, the Pope and Patriarch Bartholomew I will celebrate a joint Divine Liturgy at Istanbul’s largest concert hall, the Volkswagen Arena.

Pope Leo XIV’s first trip abroad, starting in Turkiye, is closely followed by international media and widely covered around the world. Commentators emphasize that “it may serve as a stabilizing and unifying factor among nations, contributing to a just and lasting peace,” as reported by the pro-government outlet A Haber.

After concluding his visit to Turkiye on Sunday, the Holy Father will depart for Lebanon.