Pope Leo XIV made a historic visit to Istanbul’s famed Blue Mosque on Saturday during his first overseas trip as head of the Catholic Church. The pope removed his shoes as a sign of respect but did not stop to pray inside the mosque, marking a notable moment during his four-day visit to Turkey.
The first-ever U.S.-born pope, Leo bowed gently before entering the 17th-century building, which can hold up to 10,000 worshippers. He toured the mosque with Istanbul’s imam and mufti, walking in white socks as he admired the large interior decorated with thousands of blue tiles.
A Visit Without Prayer
Although past popes have prayed silently inside the Blue Mosque, Pope Leo chose not to. According to Askin Musa Tunca, the mosque’s lead muezzin, he offered the pope a moment of prayer, but Leo politely declined, saying he preferred simply to visit.
The Vatican appeared caught off guard by the decision. Hours after the visit, the Vatican press office mistakenly released a statement claiming the pope had prayed and had been officially welcomed by Turkey’s top religious authority — neither of which took place. The Vatican later clarified that the statement had been issued in error.
First Trip as Pope Draws Global Attention
Pope Leo’s visit to Turkey is significant because it is his first foreign trip since becoming pontiff in May. Many around the world are watching closely to see how he interacts with other faiths and speaks on international issues beyond Catholic-dominated Italy.
The pope chose Turkey in part to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the historic gathering that produced the Nicene Creed — a central statement of Christian belief.
On Friday, during a ceremony with Christian leaders from across the Middle East, Leo condemned all forms of violence committed in the name of religion. He urged Christians to heal long-standing divisions, calling it “a scandal” that the world’s 2.6 billion Christians remain so divided.
Light Moments Amid Serious Dialogue
Despite the weight of the trip, the pope shared light moments with his hosts. As he was being guided out of the Blue Mosque through a door marked “No Exit,” he smiled and pointed to the sign.
“You don’t have to leave,” the muezzin replied jokingly. “You can stay here.”
No Visit to Hagia Sophia
In a departure from tradition, Pope Leo did not visit the Hagia Sophia, which sits directly opposite the Blue Mosque. Previous popes, including Pope Francis, visited the historic site — once a Byzantine church, later an Ottoman mosque, then a museum, and now a mosque again.
The Vatican has given no explanation for Leo’s decision, though it comes after years of controversy over the building’s changing religious status.
Meetings with Orthodox Leadership
Later on Saturday, the pope celebrated Mass with about 4,000 Catholics at Istanbul’s Volkswagen Arena. He also met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world’s 260 million Orthodox Christians.
Together, the two leaders issued a joint declaration expressing sorrow over ongoing global conflicts. They urged world leaders to choose dialogue and reconciliation over violence.
Pope Leo will conclude his visit to Turkey on Sunday before continuing to Lebanon as part of his regional tour.
