By Comfort Asemota
Pope Leo XIV paid an early-morning visit to Istanbul’s iconic Blue Mosque on Saturday, marking the third day of his official trip to Turkey. It was the first time the American pontiff—elected in May as the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics—had stepped inside a Muslim place of worship since succeeding the late Pope Francis.
The Blue Mosque, famed for its six minarets, cascading domes, and shimmering blue Iznik tiles, is one of Istanbul’s most visited landmarks. By visiting the historic site, Pope Leo XIV continued the tradition set by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 and Pope Francis in 2014, both of whom made symbolic stops at the mosque during their trips to Turkey.
Like all visitors, the pope removed his shoes before entering, walking across the burnt orange carpet in white socks—a detail many saw as a lighthearted nod to his favorite baseball team, the Chicago White Sox. He spent roughly 15 minutes inside as Muslim leaders guided him through the vast interior. At one point, a lone crow circled high in the domes, its cawing echoing through the structure, according to an AFP correspondent traveling with the delegation.
“He wanted to experience the atmosphere of the mosque, and he was very pleased,” said Askin Tunca, the mosque’s muezzin, who leads the call to prayer.
Outside, several dozen onlookers—mostly tourists—gathered behind security barriers.
“The pope always brings a message of peace wherever he goes,” said Roberta Ribola, a 50-year-old visitor from northern Italy.
Others viewed the visit as an important moment for intercultural understanding.
“It’s good for people of different cultures to meet, especially when foreigners struggle with Islamophobia,” said Sedat Kezer, a 33-year-old street vendor selling grilled corn. But he added that the pontiff felt distant behind tight security. “No one can see or interact with him.”
Some locals expressed frustration.
“The pope shouldn’t be here,” said Bekir Sarikaya, a Turkish visitor traveling with his parents, who had journeyed 1,000 kilometers to pray—only to find the mosque temporarily closed.
But his wife disagreed. “We can visit churches in Istanbul,” she said. “So he has every right to visit our mosques.”
