Pope Leo XIV visited Istanbul’s historic Blue Mosque on the second day of his trip to Turkey, a significant gesture of respect for the country’s Muslim majority and a continuation of interfaith dialogue efforts by past popes. The Pope removed his shoes, as is customary, and was given a silent tour of the 17th-century architectural masterpiece.
He declined an invitation from one of the guides to pray inside the mosque, instead choosing to experience the visit “in a spirit of contemplation and listening, with deep respect for the place and the faith of those who gather there in prayer,” according to a Vatican statement. The visit was a key event during the Pope’s first foreign trip, which focused on bolstering ties with the Orthodox Church and promoting unity among Christians.
Later the same day, Pope Leo attended a doxology alongside Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians. The two religious leaders signed a joint declaration rejecting the use of religion to justify violence, further emphasizing the Pope’s message of peace and unity across faiths. The trip’s main purpose was to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. The Queer God Squad wonders why the pope couldn’t offer a silent prayer? What is the message in refusing to pray? Every member of the Queer Squad would have definitely prayed, with or without being asked.
