Pope Leo XIV visits Istanbul's Blue Mosque but declines invitation to pray
Pope Leo XIV visited Istanbul's Blue Mosque Saturday, declining an invitation to pray, a departure from the practice of his predecessors, Benedict XVI and Francis.
November 29, 2025 - 02:32 PM ET • 2 min read
Pope Leo XIV visited the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, commonly known as the Blue Mosque, on Saturday, marking a central moment of dialogue during his trip to Turkey.
The Pontiff removed his shoes before entering the majestic 17th-century Ottoman temple, following the custom required for entry into the Muslim place of worship. However, unlike his immediate predecessors, Pope Leo XIV did not engage in a moment of prayer or recollection while inside.
The decision broke with the precedent set by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 and Pope Francis in 2014, both of whom visited the same mosque and observed a moment of silent prayer, a gesture widely viewed as a significant step toward rapprochement between the Catholic Church and Islam.
The Pope was welcomed and accompanied by Safi Arpagus, the Head of the Diyanet, Turkey's Presidency for Religious Affairs.
A muezzin, Asqgin Tunca, confirmed to reporters that he had invited the Pope to pray. "I told him that this was the house of Allah and I asked him if he wanted to pray," Tunca said. He added that Pope Leo XIV responded, "No. I will only observe around," or, according to another account, simply said, "That's OK."
The Vatican press office later explained that the Pope experienced the visit to the mosque "in silence."
The visit to the Blue Mosque, renowned for its six minarets and 21,043 turquoise ceramic tiles, was the principal act of dialogue with Islam during the Pope's current journey. Visits of this nature are often delicate in the complex relationship between the Catholic Church and Islam, with details carefully measured to avoid theological controversy.
The visit took place on the third day of Pope Leo XIV's trip to Turkey. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque holds historical significance; it was converted into a mosque by the Ottomans after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. It was later transformed into a museum during the Turkish Republic era in 1923 before being reverted to a functioning mosque in 2020 by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.