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Pope Leo XIV visited the historic Sultanahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, in Istanbul on Saturday, as part of his multi-day trip to Türkiye.
The visit marked the first time the pope entered a Muslim place of worship since the beginning of his pontificate.
Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and mosque officials accompanied the pope during the tour.
The stop in Istanbul formed a key part of Pope Leo XIV’s first overseas trip, which began earlier in the week with an official visit to Ankara and continues through Dec. 2.
His itinerary also includes visits to Iznik and Lebanon.
According to the Vatican’s program, the trip focuses on promoting dialogue, peace and cooperation during a series of meetings with regional religious leaders.
The Pope’s visit to the Blue Mosque comes within a broader effort to advance interfaith understanding.
His Türkiye schedule includes meetings with Christian patriarchs and participation in events linked to the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea in Iznik.
The Vatican described the journey as centered on unity and engagement with both Christian and Muslim communities.
During his time in Türkiye, Pope Leo XIV is holding meetings, attending ceremonies and visiting significant religious and cultural sites.
Turkish officials welcomed the visit and joined him for parts of the program, including the mosque tour in Istanbul.
The pontiff is expected to continue his engagements in Türkiye before traveling onward to Lebanon as part of the same regional mission.
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