Pope Leo XIV’s Recent Visit to Turkey and Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV, on his inaugural international trip, chose not to participate in Islamic prayers at a mosque in Turkey, as shown in a video clip.

The pope’s journey, spanning from November 27 to December 2, includes visits to Turkey and Lebanon. This first overseas visit as the papal leader was reported by the Associated Press.

During his stop at Istanbul’s famed Blue Mosque, Leo took off his shoes—an act of respect customary in mosques. However, he declined the chance to join the imam in prayer, according to the National Catholic Reporter.

A video from Reuters depicts Leo sharing a light moment with a guide inside the mosque.

The Vatican later noted that Leo would hold a “short silent prayer” prior to his visit. Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesman, expressed that “His Holiness visited the mosque in silence, in a spirit of meditation and listening, with deep respect for the faith of this place and the people who gather there to pray,” as reported by the NCR.

In the past, both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis had participated in silent moments at the Blue Mosque. Benedict bowed his head while an imam prayed beside him, while Francis faced east, eyes closed, hands clasped in prayer.

Besides his mosque visit, reports indicate that Leo held a service on Friday near the ruins of the ancient cathedral in Iznik, commemorating 1700 years since the First Council of Nicaea. He emphasized recognizing “violence and conflict” in the current world, urging reflection on the nature of Jesus Christ in today’s lives.

As Leo concluded this leg of his tour in Lebanon, the weather turned rainy. A video revealed crowds greeting him, tossing brown rice at his car as it approached the presidential palace.

On his second day in Lebanon, the pope spoke about hope for Christians even amidst conflict, referencing the Virgin Mary as a model of faith amid uncertainty. He stated, “Our faith is the anchor of heaven. Hold tight to the rope.”

Previously, some criticism arose regarding Leo’s visit to the Blue Mosque right before he honored Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, highlighting a complex history where Ataturk had purportedly “completed the destruction of the ancient Christian communities of Anatolia.”