Pope Leo XIV’s Visit to Turkey Focuses on Christian Unity, Skips Prayer at Blue Mosque

A Visit Marked by Diplomatic Gestures and Unexpected Moments

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in history, visited Istanbul’s iconic Blue Mosque on Saturday, but contrary to the Vatican’s initial announcement, he did not pause for a “brief moment of silent prayer.” The pope removed his shoes and toured the 17th-century mosque in his white socks, admiring its soaring tiled domes and Arabic inscriptions as an imam guided him through the sacred space. When the imam, Asgin Tunca, invited Leo to pray, telling him “It’s not my house, not your house, it’s the house of Allah,” the pope politely declined. This deviation from the planned program prompted the Vatican to issue a corrected bulletin, with spokesman Matteo Bruni explaining that the pope had experienced the mosque “in silence, in a spirit of contemplation and listening, with deep respect for the place and the faith of those who gather there in prayer.”

Following Predecessor’s Footsteps with Notable Differences

Pope Leo’s visit to the Blue Mosque followed a tradition established by his recent predecessors, though with meaningful differences. When Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2006, amid tensions following his Regensburg speech that many Muslims found offensive, he observed a moment of silent prayer alongside the imam. Similarly, in 2014, Pope Francis stood for two minutes of silent prayer facing east with his head bowed and eyes closed, prompting the Grand Mufti of Istanbul to say, “May God accept it.” Leo’s approach was more reserved, focusing on observation rather than participation. Also notable was his decision to omit the nearby Hagia Sophia from his itinerary. This ancient Christian cathedral, converted from a museum back into a mosque in 2020—a move that drew international criticism including from the Vatican—was a standard stop for previous papal visits to Istanbul.

Building Bridges with Orthodox Christianity

The true focus of Pope Leo’s trip became clear in his afternoon activities, where he met with Turkey’s Christian leaders at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem and later prayed with Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, at the patriarchal church of Saint George. This meeting carried significant ecumenical weight, as the two religious leaders signed a joint declaration pledging to take “courageous steps” toward unity between the Eastern and Western churches, which have been divided since the Great Schism of 1054. Among the most concrete proposals was a commitment to explore a common date for celebrating Easter, addressing one of the visible differences between the churches. “It is our shared desire to continue the process of exploring a possible solution for celebrating together the Feast of Feasts every year,” their joint statement affirmed.

Looking Toward 2033 and Christian Unity

In his remarks to the gathered patriarchs, Pope Leo pointed to the upcoming Holy Year in 2033—marking the 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s crucifixion—as a significant milestone on the path to unity. He invited Orthodox leaders to join him in Jerusalem for “a journey that leads to full unity,” signaling his intention to prioritize ecumenical relations during his papacy. This focus on Christian unity comes as Catholics represent just a tiny minority in Turkey—approximately 33,000 people in a nation of more than 85 million, predominantly Sunni Muslim. The pope concluded his time in Istanbul with a Catholic Mass at the Volkswagen Arena, gathering this small community together in a rare public celebration.

Practical Challenges Amid Spiritual Diplomacy

While Leo focused on interfaith relations, trip organizers faced a very modern challenge: his ITA Airways Airbus A320neo charter was among those affected by a worldwide Airbus software update ordered by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The update was required after an analysis found a computer code issue that may have contributed to a sudden altitude drop on a JetBlue flight last month. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni assured reporters that ITA was addressing the issue, with the necessary equipment and technician en route from Rome to Istanbul to complete the update before the pope’s scheduled departure to Beirut, Lebanon, on Sunday afternoon for the second leg of his inaugural international trip.

A Papal Style Taking Shape

Pope Leo XIV’s approach in Turkey offers early insights into his papal style and priorities. Unlike the sometimes controversial Benedict XVI or the spontaneous, crowd-embracing Francis, Leo appears to be carving out a diplomatic middle path focused on institutional bridge-building while maintaining clear boundaries. His decision to skip prayer at the Blue Mosque while still showing respect, his emphasis on formal declarations with Orthodox leaders rather than symbolic gestures, and his looking ahead to the 2033 Holy Year suggest a pope thinking strategically about long-term Christian unity. As this first American pope continues his journey to Lebanon, the world is getting its first real glimpse of how Leo may navigate the complex religious, cultural and geopolitical challenges facing the Catholic Church in the 21st century, particularly in regions where Christians are a minority and where ancient divisions within Christianity itself remain unresolved.