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Pope Leo XIV arrived at Esenboga International Airport in Ankara on November 27, 2025, marking his first apostolic journey to Turkey. As he stepped off the plane, the scene was captured by Reuters, highlighting the significance of his visit.
On Saturday morning, the Pope plans to visit the renowned Blue Mosque in Istanbul, a highly symbolic act during his third day in Turkey. This will be his first time visiting a Muslim place of worship since becoming the leader of the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide in May. His predecessor, Pope Francis, had previously championed interfaith dialogue, and Leo’s visit continues that tradition.
Leo follows in the footsteps of previous pontiffs who have visited the Blue Mosque. Pope Benedict XVI did so in 2006, and Pope Francis followed in 2014, both accompanied by Istanbul’s Grand Mufti. Unlike those visits, Leo will not be going to the nearby Hagia Sophia, an iconic 6th-century basilica built during the Byzantine Empire. Originally a Christian church, it was transformed into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. The Turkish authorities, led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, turned Hagia Sophia into a museum in 1935, and it gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 1985. However, in 2020, it was reconverted into a mosque, a move that drew international criticism, including from the late Pope Francis, who expressed deep sadness over the decision.
The Blue Mosque, known for its striking blue İznik tiles inside, stands as one of Istanbul’s top tourist attractions. Constructed in the early 17th century during Sultan Ahmed I’s reign, it features six tall minarets and stands on part of the ancient Hippodrome, once a major chariot racing stadium in Constantinople.
Later Saturday afternoon, the Pope will meet with local church leaders and participate in a short service at the Patriarchal Church of St. George. He will then join Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at his residence on the Golden Horn to sign a joint declaration, the contents of which have not yet been disclosed publicly.
In the evening, Leo will celebrate a mass at the Volkswagen Arena, where an estimated 4,000 worshippers are expected to attend. On Friday, the Pope traveled to Iznik for an ecumenical prayer service commemorating 1,700 years of one of the earliest significant councils of the Church.
Sunday morning will see the Pope participating in prayer at the Armenian Cathedral, conducting a divine liturgy at St. George’s, and then heading to Lebanon for the second phase of his trip. This marks his first international journey since his election to the papacy.
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