Pope Leo Makes Historic Blue Mosque Visit, Condemns Religious Violence

Pope Leo, the first U.S. pope, visits Istanbul's renowned Blue Mosque in a respectful gesture by removing his shoes but refrains from prayer. His visit marks a significant engagement with the Muslim world and he condemns violence perpetrated in the name of religion during his tour of Turkey.

Pope Leo, the first American pontiff, visited Istanbul's iconic Blue Mosque on Saturday, marking a historic step in interfaith dialogue. He respectfully removed his shoes upon entering, maintaining a spirit of non-prayer reflection during the brief 20-minute tour led by the mosque's imam and Istanbul's mufti.

The visit forms part of Leo's inaugural foreign trip as pope, which also includes stops in Lebanon. This gesture of goodwill, however, differed from past papal visits as Leo did not stop by the Hagia Sophia, a significant site in Christian and Muslim history.

While at a ceremony in Turkey, Leo condemned religious violence and called for Christian unity across the globe. His actions during the visit are seen as pivotal as he navigates complex interfaith contexts amidst a diverse audience.

(With inputs from agencies.)