Pope Leo XIV Visits Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, Observes in Silence Without Praying

Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pontiff, visited Istanbul’s historic Blue Mosque on Saturday, continuing a tradition of papal gestures toward Islam, yet pointedly chose not to pray or observe a moment of silent prayer despite a direct invitation from the mosque’s Imam. Accompanied by the head of Turkey’s Diyanet, the Pope removed his shoes and walked in white socks across the carpeted interior while admiring the 17th-Century Ottoman architecture and Arabic calligraphy, but maintained complete silence throughout the visit.

The Imam, Asgin Tunca, later told reporters he had warmly invited Leo to worship, saying, “This is Allah’s house, not mine or yours – if you wish, you can pray here.” The Pope politely declined with a simple “That’s OK,” according to Tunca, who added that Leo appeared content simply to absorb the atmosphere. Vatican Spokesman Matteo Bruni later clarified that the Pontiff experienced the visit “in silence, in a spirit of contemplation and listening, with deep respect” for Muslim worshippers, deliberately avoiding any act that could be interpreted as formal prayer.

The decision marks a contrast with previous papal visits: Pope Francis stood for two minutes in silent prayer facing Mecca in 2014, while Pope Benedict XVI, seeking to repair damage from his controversial Regensburg speech, also bowed his head in reflection beside the Grand Mufti in 2006. Those moments were hailed as historic bridges between Catholicism and Islam; Leo’s restraint, however, reflects a more reserved approach amid ongoing sensitivities surrounding interfaith gestures.

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Notably absent from Pope Leo’s itinerary was Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine masterpiece controversially reconverted into a mosque by Turkey in 2020 – a decision that drew sharp criticism from The Vatican and much of the Christian world. The omission underscores lingering tensions, even as Pope Leo pursues dialogue with Turkey’s religious leaders, including a private meeting with Syriac Orthodox representatives and an evening prayer with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Spiritual Head of the world’s Orthodox Christians.

The Istanbul leg follows Friday’s emotionally charged commemoration of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, where Pope Leo joined Christian Leaders in reciting the Nicene Creed at its ancient birthplace. Urging an end to “the scandal of divisions,” he framed unity as urgent amid global threats to human dignity. The day concluded with Mass for Turkey’s tiny Catholic community of 33,000 in a nation of over 85 million, highlighting both the challenges and the enduring hope of Christian witness in a Muslim-majority land.

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