Istanbul, Türkiye - November 29, 2025 – Pope Leo XIV made history today, becoming the first known leader of the Catholic Church to visit a Muslim place of worship with a visit to Istanbul’s Blue Mosque on the third day of his trip to Türkiye.
The US-born pope bowed slightly before entering the mosque early Saturday and was given a tour of the complex, which can accommodate 10,000 worshippers, by the mosque’s imam and the mufti of Istanbul.
During the 20-minute visit,Pope Leo,wearing white socks,engaged in conversation with Askin Tunca,the Blue Mosque’s lead muezzin. “He wanted to see the mosque, he wanted to feel the atmosphere of the mosque, and he was very pleased,” Tunca told reporters.
Tunca also shared that he offered the pope the opportunity to pray,but leo expressed a preference for simply observing the mosque.
The Vatican released a statement describing the visit as undertaken “in a spirit of reflection and listening, with deep respect for the place and for the faith of those who gather there in prayer.”
A lighthearted moment occurred as the group exited the mosque through a door marked “No exit,” prompting Pope Leo to remark,”It says no exit,” to which Tunca replied,”You don’t have to go out,you can stay here.”
Pope Leo’s visit to Türkiye, his first overseas trip as pontiff, continues through Sunday and also includes a stop in Lebanon. He was elected pope in May and is being closely observed as he engages with the international community.
The Blue Mosque, officially the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, was built between 1603 and 1617 and is renowned for its interior decoration of thousands of blue ceramic tiles.
notably, Pope Leo did not visit the nearby Hagia Sophia, a historic basilica that was converted into a mosque in 2020 – a move that drew criticism from the late Pope Francis.
