In a powerful gesture of interfaith respect, Pope Leo XIV chose the iconic Blue Mosque in Istanbul as a key stop on the second day of his first official trip abroad.
A Symbolic Continuation
The visit on Saturday 29 November 2025 saw the pontiff, who is history's first American pope, walk in the footsteps of his recent predecessors. This high-profile visit is a established tradition, designed as a mark of respect to Turkey's Muslim majority.
Accompanied by the head of Turkey's Diyanet religious affairs directorate, Pope Leo was shown the mosque's magnificent interior, including its famous soaring blue-tiled dome.
A Moment of Reflection
According to the Vatican, the schedule for the visit included the Pope observing a 'brief minute of silent prayer'. However, official reports noted that it was not immediately clear if this moment of contemplation had taken place as planned.
This inaugural foreign journey for Pope Leo is not limited to Turkey. Following his engagements in Istanbul, the pontiff is scheduled to travel to Lebanon, where he is expected to speak in broader terms about the pressing need for peace in the Middle East.
