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Pope Leo XIV visited the historic Sultanahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, and Fener Greek Patriarchate 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 stops 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 early Saturday 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.
Pope Leo XIV attended a closed-door session at the Mor Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church after visiting the Blue Mosque.
As his next stop after the Church, Pope Leo XIV visited the Fener Greek Patriarchate later on Saturday.
The visit marked an important moment in his ongoing trip to Istanbul, highlighting the strengthening of interfaith dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox communities.
Patriarch Bartholomew I welcomed Pope Leo XIV at the patriarchate and accompanied him throughout the visit.
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 and Fener Greek Patriarchate 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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