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Pope in Istanbul: Muslim and Christian leader meetings Pope in "silent adoration" in Istanbul Blue Mosque
(about 9 hours later)
Pope Francis is due to arrive in Istanbul on the second day of his three-day visit to Turkey. Pope Francis has stood in "silent adoration" in Istanbul's Blue Mosque alongside the city's top Muslim cleric on the second day of his Turkey visit.
He will meet Muslim and Christian leaders of the city, which as Constantinople was Byzantine's capital until the Ottoman conquest in 1453. The Pope later visited the Hagia Sofia - a church turned into a mosque and then a museum.
The Pope will also visit a mosque and hold mass at a Catholic cathedral. On Friday, he called for an interfaith dialogue to counter fanaticism and fundamentalism during a visit to the Turkish capital, Ankara.
On Friday, he called for an interfaith dialogue to counter fanaticism and fundamentalism during a visit to the Turkish capital Ankara. The Pope's trip is only the fourth visit by a pontiff to Turkey.
He also called for a renewed Middle East peace push, saying the region had "for too long been a theatre of fratricidal wars". There are about 120,000 Christians in Turkey - most of the country's 80 million citizens are Muslims.
The Pope's trip is only the fourth visit by a pontiff to Turkey. Most of the country's 80 million citizens are Muslims, and there are about 120,000 Christians.
Healing schismHealing schism
The Pope will begin his visit to Istanbul with a visit to Hagia Sofia - for almost 1,000 years the most important Orthodox cathedral, then for nearly five centuries a mosque under the Ottomans and currently a museum. At the Blue Mosque, one of the greatest masterpieces of Ottoman architecture, the Pope turned east towards Mecca, clasped his hands and paused for two minutes as the Grand Mufti of Istanbul, Rahmi Yaran, performed a Muslim prayer.
He will then hold meetings with Muslim leaders at the Blue Mosque, one of the greatest masterpieces of Ottoman architecture. The Pope then visited Hagia Sofia - which for almost 1,000 years was the most important Orthodox cathedral, then for nearly five centuries a mosque under the Ottomans, and is currently a museum.
Later in the day, the pontiff will celebrate mass at the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and then will meet Bartholomew I - the "first among equals" of the Orthodox Church. Istanbul was Byzantine's capital, known as Constantinople, until the Ottoman conquest in 1453.
Correspondents say Francis and Bartholomew have a strong personal relationship, and discussions are expected to focus on healing the schism in the Christian Church that divided it between Rome and Constantinople. Later in the day, the pontiff will celebrate Mass at the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and then will meet the leader of the Orthodox Church, Bartholomew I.
In Ankara on Friday, the Pope stressed the need for reconciliation and dialogue between the religions. Francis and Bartholomew have a strong personal relationship, and discussions are expected to focus on healing the schism in the Christian Church in 1054 that divided Rome and Constantinople.
For a city that passed from the Byzantines to the Ottomans, a place where religions, empires and cultures collided, the Pope's message of interfaith dialogue has profound resonance, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul.
In Ankara on Friday, the Pope stressed this message. He also called for a renewed Middle East peace push, saying the region had "for too long been a theatre of fratricidal wars".