Pope Francis Advocates for Unity During Istanbul Visit

Pope Leo XIV visited Istanbul's iconic Blue Mosque on Saturday, focusing on unifying Christians rather than praying during the visit. The Pope, who took his shoes off and toured the 17th-century mosque in white socks, was guided by Imam Asgin Tunca, who pointed out the mosque's features.

Although the Vatican had indicated that the Pope would observe a moment of silent prayer in the mosque, he chose not to do so, leading to a correction from the Holy See regarding the planned reference to prayer.

Imam Tunca expressed that he invited the Pope to worship, stating, 'It's not my house, not your house, (it's the) house of Allah,' but acknowledged that the Pope seemed pleased to experience the mosque's atmosphere.

Earlier, Pope Leo XIV prayed with the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Patriarch Bartholomew, at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George, where they signed a joint declaration vowing to take courageous steps toward unity, including finding a common date for Easter.

This is significant as Eastern and Western churches split during the Great Schism of 1054. The joint statement expressed a shared desire to explore solutions for celebrating Easter together, referencing the upcoming Holy Year in 2033, marking the anniversary of Christ's crucifixion.

The Pope later held a Catholic Mass for Istanbul's Catholic community, which numbers approximately 33,000 in a predominantly Muslim country of over 85 million people. Among the attendees was Tarcin Unlu, a recent convert to Christianity who expressed that her family is unhappy with her conversion.

The visit sends a powerful message of inclusivity, as noted by Rodrick Nuel, a Turkish attendee originally from Nigeria, highlighting the Pope's outreach to different religions. Meanwhile, logistical issues arose as the Pope's charter flight was affected by a worldwide Airbus software update, which led to delays.

Pope Leo XIV is set to continue his inaugural trip by flying from Istanbul to Beirut, Lebanon, on Sunday afternoon. This visit underscores the Pope's commitment to fostering interfaith dialogue amid ongoing religious tensions in the region.