The pope is visiting Turkey, an enclave where multiple religions historically converge. As part of his visit, and this Saturday he entered a mosque for the first time in his pontificate, visiting that of Sultan Ahmed, known as the Istanbul Blue Mosquebut he did not stop to pray, as his predecessors did, during the third day of his visit to Türkiye. But, Why does the Pope visit a Muslim temple?
Just as the newspaper says these visits are delicate in the complex relations between the Catholic Church and Islam. In recent decades, it has been considered a clear step towards rapprochement between both religions. In fact, it is a gesture with multiple symbolism that the Pope and a Muslim leader pray in the same space.
This quote was especially heard in November 2006, when the American’s predecessor Leo XIV, Benedict XVIgave a speech in which he spoke about the use of violence in Islam, and, according to the newspaper, “with phrases taken out of context” a wave of protests was unleashed in the Muslim world. In fact, There were demonstrations in Istanbul against Joseph Ratzinger. John Paul II was the first Pontiff to take off his shoes and enter a mosque, the Umayyad mosque in Damascus, in 2001.
The official Vatican program “clearly” indicated that the Pope would have a “silent moment of prayer” facing Mecca at the Mosque. However, Robert Prevost has broken tradition and has not prayed. The muezzin of the mosque, Askin Musa Tuncawho accompanied him, explained to the media that at the beginning they told him that the Pope was going to pray here, but that when he asked him if he wanted to have a “moment of praise”, he told him “no, he just wanted to visit her.”
“It was explained to him that this was the house of Allah and that he could have a moment of praise,” but he replied “that it was fine that way” and that he continued “walking around” the mosque, which walked around for 20 minutes while listening to the muezzin’s explanationswho guides the prayer. As Islamic culture dictates, Leo XIV had to take off his shoes to enter and then admired the colors of Sultan Ahmed’s vaults.
The Blue Mosque is located in Sultanahmet Square and was built at the beginning of the 17th century. Its name derives from the wonderful blue Iznik tile mosaics found in its inner courtyard. Its construction created great controversies in the Muslim world, since Its six minarets were considered a sacrilegious attack as it rivaled Mecca.
On his trip in 2006, Benedict XVI prayed in this mosque, in front of the mihrabthe niche in the wall that indicates the direction of Mecca, and the then Vatican spokesman, Federico Lombardi, He had to specify that it was a moment of “recollection.” This gesture marked a milestone for relations with Islam and served to erase the controversy that arose after the German Pope’s speech in Regensburg. In 2014, it was Pope Francis’ turn,
