Pope Leo XIV's Historic Trip: Bridging Faiths in Turkiye

Pope Leo XIV embarked on a significant visit to Istanbul's Blue Mosque, connecting with Turkiye's religious leaders in a gesture of interfaith respect. His trip included prayers for unity at the historic Council of Nicaea site and concluded with a Mass for Turkiye's small Catholic community.

Pope Leo XIV opened his visit to Istanbul with a stop at the iconic Blue Mosque, a symbol of cultural and religious significance in Turkiye. The pontiff engaged with local religious leaders, echoing past papal visits in a bid to foster mutual respect and understanding between the Catholic Church and the Muslim world.

Although his itinerary omits a visit to the recently re-converted Hagia Sophia, Leo's journey marked historical significance by focusing on unity within the Christian Church. At the site of the Council of Nicaea, Pope Leo joined Christian leaders in prayer, underscoring the importance of healing deep-seated denominational rifts.

The visit culminated at Istanbul's Volkswagen Arena with a Catholic Mass, addressing Turkiye's 33,000-strong Catholic community. Leo's tour emphasized the Vatican's enduring goal to bridge divides, prompted by mutual respect and dialogue amid a predominantly Muslim population in Turkiye.

(With inputs from agencies.)