Pope Leo Visits Blue Mosque in Historic Turkey Trip

Pope Leo visited Istanbul's Blue Mosque during his first overseas trip as pontiff, marking a significant moment of interfaith respect. During the visit, he refrained from praying, opting for reflection instead. His trip to Turkey commemorates the 1,700th anniversary of a crucial early Church council.

Pope Leo made a groundbreaking visit to Istanbul's Blue Mosque on Saturday, marking the first time he visited a Muslim place of worship as the Catholic Church's leader. The gesture was a significant moment of interfaith respect during his debut overseas trip which has captured worldwide attention.

The pope, who did not pray during his tour of the mosque, expressed his visit in "a spirit of reflection and listening," according to a Vatican statement. Although the Vatican initially misstated that Leo had prayed, they later corrected the release, indicating it was an error.

Leo's choice of Turkey for his first foreign visit underscores the importance of the region's historical ties to Christianity, including the Church council that produced the Nicene Creed 1,700 years ago. The trip also focused on promoting unity, with Leo denouncing violence in the name of religion and urging Christians to bridge divisions.

(With inputs from agencies.)