Pope Leo XIV’s Visit to Turkey Continues: First Stop—The Blue Mosque
Pope Leo XIV, visiting Turkey at the official invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, continued his program in Istanbul on Saturday. After spending the night at Saint Esprit Cathedral in Şişli, the Pope’s first stop of the day was the historic Sultanahmet (Blue) Mosque.
A Warm Welcome at the Blue Mosque
As part of his official visit, Pope Leo XIV arrived at the Blue Mosque under tight security measures. He was greeted by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and his delegation.
The Pope was accompanied by Istanbul Mufti Emrullah Tuncel and mosque officials. The mosque’s muezzin, Aşgın Musa Tunca, provided the Pope with detailed information about the mosque’s history and features.
Tunca added, “I think he was deeply impressed. Everyone who enters this mosque is moved. He told us he had visited several mosques before becoming Pope, but this is the first one he visited after assuming the papacy. We were honored. When I explained the mihrab and mentioned that the word refers to the room where Mary, the mother of Jesus, stayed, I felt he was genuinely touched.”
Shoes Off, 15-Minute Tour
Before entering the mosque, Pope Leo XIV removed his shoes. His tour inside lasted around 15 minutes and ended after a short conversation with officials. The Pope then departed the Blue Mosque for his next stop.
Next Stop: Mor Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church in Yeşilköy
Pope Leo XIV then traveled to Mor Efrem Syriac Orthodox Church to attend a meeting with local church leaders and Christian communities. Security around the church was again heightened during his visit.
The meeting lasted about two hours. Afterward, the Pope continued to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Fener, where he was greeted by church bells as he entered.
Joint Declaration Signed at the Ecumenical Patriarchate
At the Patriarchate, Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew signed a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to dialogue and unity among Christians.
The declaration acknowledged the theological obstacles that still prevent full unity among all Christians but emphasized a shared commitment to continue resolving these issues “through theological dialogue” and to remain connected through the “common faith expressed in the Creed of Nicaea.”
The document also underlined ongoing support for the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue, which examines historically divisive issues.
The Pope’s Visit to İznik
Earlier, during a commemorative event marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD) in İznik, Pope Leo XIV said that the experience had “encouraged their quest to restore full unity among Christians.”
Patriarch Bartholomew thanked the Pope for choosing İznik and Istanbul for his first international visit and reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting peace and reconciliation across the world.
After a joint “Prayer of Thanksgiving,” both leaders signed the declaration.
Highlights from the Pope’s Turkey Program
The Pope began his Turkey visit on Thursday with meetings in Ankara.
On Friday, he attended services at Saint Esprit Cathedral and visited the Bomonti French Poorhouse in Istanbul. He later held a private meeting with the Chief Rabbi of Turkey, after which he flew by helicopter to İznik.
There, he joined Patriarch Bartholomew and other Christian leaders to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, one of the foundational events of Christian history.
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