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Polybius

(21,246 posts) Sun Nov 30, 2025, 01:28 AM 8 hrs ago

Pope removes shoes but doesn't pray on visit to Istanbul's Blue Mosque

Source: Reuters

ISTANBUL, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Pope Leo visited Istanbul's Blue Mosque on Saturday, removing his shoes in a sign of respect but not appearing to pray in his first visit as leader of the Catholic Church to a Muslim place of worship during his four-day visit to Turkey.

The first U.S. pope bowed slightly before entering the mosque and was led on a tour of the expansive complex, able to hold 10,000 worshippers, by its imam and the mufti of Istanbul.

Leo, walking in white socks, smiled during the 20-minute visit and joked with one of his guides, the mosque's lead muezzin - the official who leads the daily calls to prayer.

The Vatican appeared surprised that Leo had not stopped to pray during the visit and that he had not been welcomed to the mosque by the head of Turkey's state-run religious organisation, known as the diyanet, as had been planned.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/pope-removes-shoes-doesnt-pray-visit-istanbuls-blue-mosque-2025-11-29/

8 replies

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Highlight:

Pope removes shoes but doesn't pray on visit to Istanbul's Blue Mosque (Original Post) Polybius 8 hrs ago OP

Why would the pope pray at a mosque? RandySF 7 hrs ago #1

His precedessors did, and the Vatican press release had expected him to muriel_volestrangler 3 hrs ago #5

It was simply a gesture of love and respect... ananda 6 hrs ago #2

When I was escorted into a mosque Zackzzzz 5 hrs ago #3

what i did not know : shoes of the fisherman rampartd 4 hrs ago #4

"Not appearing to pray..." Mike Nelson 3 hrs ago #6

In the early 2000s I took off my shoes in the Blue Mosque truthisfreedom 3 hrs ago #7

The more interesting part for me was the diyanet did not meet with him. Joinfortmill 1 min ago #8

RandySF

(80,212 posts)

1. Why would the pope pray at a mosque?

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Sun Nov 30, 2025, 02:27 AM

7 hrs ago

muriel_volestrangler

(105,300 posts)

5. His precedessors did, and the Vatican press release had expected him to

Reply to RandySF (Reply #1)

Sun Nov 30, 2025, 05:53 AM

3 hrs ago

From the BBC report:

The Pontiff was seen bowing as he entered the building, but it is reported he did not pray at the mosque, as his two predecessors had done.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gp917zr8no

From Reuters:

The Vatican appeared surprised that Leo had not stopped to pray during the visit and that he had not been welcomed to the mosque by the head of Turkey's state-run religious organisation, known as the diyanet, as had been planned.

About three hours after the visit, the Vatican released a press statement saying both the prayer and the welcome had occurred, although they had not. The Vatican press office said the release had been sent in error.

Askin Musa Tunca, the muezzin, told journalists after the mosque visit that he asked Leo during the tour if he wished to pray for a moment, but the pope said he preferred to just visit the mosque.

ananda

(34,118 posts)

2. It was simply a gesture of love and respect...

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Sun Nov 30, 2025, 03:30 AM

6 hrs ago

This reminds me of John Xxiii's ecumenical spirit.

Love

Zackzzzz

(210 posts)

3. When I was escorted into a mosque

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Sun Nov 30, 2025, 03:48 AM

5 hrs ago

in Jerusalem there was no talk of prayer.

rampartd

(3,215 posts)

4. what i did not know : shoes of the fisherman

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Sun Nov 30, 2025, 05:31 AM

4 hrs ago

if peter had fished in louisiana the popes would need a pair of white rubber shrimp boots.

leo wears black shoes,, as did francis.

benedict wore the traditional red shoes until his retirement, when he changed to black.

Mike Nelson

(10,859 posts)

6. "Not appearing to pray..."

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Sun Nov 30, 2025, 06:04 AM

3 hrs ago

... seems like a better way to explain. He was likely praying frequently, to himself. The phrase that caught me eye was "Turkey's state-run" religion. Maybe the Pope didn't want to participate in that country's "state-run" religion?

truthisfreedom

(23,499 posts)

7. In the early 2000s I took off my shoes in the Blue Mosque

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Sun Nov 30, 2025, 06:10 AM

3 hrs ago

and didn’t pray either, but then again, I’m an atheist.

Joinfortmill

(19,679 posts)

8. The more interesting part for me was the diyanet did not meet with him.

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Sun Nov 30, 2025, 09:40 AM

1 min ago

There might be a story there, or not. But, interesting and notable.

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