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Pope Brings Message of Interreligious Peace to Istanbul Pope Brings Message of Interreligious Peace to Istanbul
(about 3 hours later)
ISTANBUL — On the second leg of his trip to Turkey, Pope Francis was welcomed on Saturday by curious bystanders and tourists from around the world as he visited the historical district here to deliver his message of further interreligious dialogue for peace.ISTANBUL — On the second leg of his trip to Turkey, Pope Francis was welcomed on Saturday by curious bystanders and tourists from around the world as he visited the historical district here to deliver his message of further interreligious dialogue for peace.
Istanbul, which is home to several cultural landmarks for both Christians and Muslims, offered the pope an ideal venue to put his message into action. The pontiff, 77, first visited the Sultan Ahmet Mosque of Muslims, then Haghia Sophia, now a museum but formerly the leading temple for Eastern Orthodox Christians. Both monumental structures overlook the same yard. Istanbul, which is home to several cultural landmarks for both Christians and Muslims, offered the pope an ideal venue to put his message into action. The pope, 77, first visited the Sultan Ahmet Mosque of Muslims, then Hagia Sophia, now a museum but formerly the leading temple for Eastern Orthodox Christians. Both monumental structures overlook the same yard.
In the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, the pope did not turn his palms toward the sky in the Islamic tradition, as did his predecessor, Benedict XVI, in 2006, but he bowed his head and clasped his hands alongside the city’s senior cleric for a two-minute silent prayer, both facing the direction of Mecca. “May Allah accept it,” said Rahmi Yaran, the grand mufti of Istanbul, as the two finished their prayers. In the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, the pope did not wrap his hands under his chest to resemble the Islamic tradition, as did his predecessor, Benedict XVI, in 2006, but he bowed his head and clasped his hands alongside the city’s senior cleric for a two-minute silent prayer, both facing the direction of Mecca. “May Allah accept it,” said Rahmi Yaran, the grand mufti of Istanbul, as the two finished their prayers.
Outside, a small but enthusiastic group of Christians waved Turkish and Vatican flags, played guitars and cheered “Papa Francesco” as the pope smiled and waved before entering the Haghia Sophia museum, which dates back to the sixth century. Outside, a small but enthusiastic group of Christians waved Turkish and Vatican flags, played guitars and cheered “Papa Francesco” as the pope smiled and waved before entering the Hagia Sophia museum, which dates to the sixth century.
The church was converted into a mosque after the 1453 Ottoman conquest, and made a museum in 1935. Some ultranationalist groups have protested to demand that it again serve as a mosque.The church was converted into a mosque after the 1453 Ottoman conquest, and made a museum in 1935. Some ultranationalist groups have protested to demand that it again serve as a mosque.
Live coverage of the visit showed Francis listening to the museum director, Hayrullah Cengiz, who pointed at Islamic inscriptions and adjoining images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus Christ. Live coverage of the visit showed Francis listening to the museum director, Hayrullah Cengiz, who pointed at Islamic inscriptions and adjoining images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus.
Security measures included 7,000 police officers on duty in the historical neighborhood, which is often crowded with tourists, and the restriction of trams and pedestrian crossings.Security measures included 7,000 police officers on duty in the historical neighborhood, which is often crowded with tourists, and the restriction of trams and pedestrian crossings.
Some visitors were pleasantly surprised by the pope’s visit. Christians in Turkey number about 100,000 — including Armenians, Orthodox Christians and Catholics — out of a population of 74 million.
“It is a very good coincidence,” said Martha Maillo, 44, a Spanish Catholic who was visiting Istanbul with friends. “Being here and seeing him is amazing, and his message for dialogue is an opportunity for everyone.” “It is symbolically important that the spiritual leader of a different faith visits Turkey to promote peace among civilizations,” said Tatyos Bebek, an Armenian-Turk who lives in Istanbul.
During meetings Friday in Ankara with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and the head of the religious affairs directorate, the pope repeated his call for interreligious dialogue, rather than military action alone, to resolve conflicts in the Middle East, especially in Iraq and Syria, where the Islamic State has been gaining ground.During meetings Friday in Ankara with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and the head of the religious affairs directorate, the pope repeated his call for interreligious dialogue, rather than military action alone, to resolve conflicts in the Middle East, especially in Iraq and Syria, where the Islamic State has been gaining ground.
On Saturday, Islamic State militants launched two suicide attacks with explosive-laden vehicles at the border crossing of Mursitpinar, the Turkish town near Kobani, Syria, where Islamic State and Kurdish pesh merga forces have battled since late September. Four pesh merga fighters were killed and 18 injured, CNN Turk television reported. On Saturday, Islamic State militants launched two suicide attacks with explosive-laden vehicles at the border crossing of Mursitpinar, the Turkish town near Kobani, Syria, where Islamic State and Kurdish pesh merga forces have battled since late September. Four pesh merga fighters were killed and 18 injured, CNN Turk television reported. Planes from the United States-led coalition struck the radicals’ bases in the area after the attack, said the report, quoting witnesses.
Planes from the United States-led coalition struck the radicals’ bases in the area after the attack, said the report, quoting eyewitnesses. A group of Iraqi Christians who were forced to flee Mosul after the Islamic State raided the Iraqi city in June were excited to see the pope in Istanbul.
A group of Iraqi Christians who were forced to flee Mosul after the Islamic State raided the Iraqi city in June was excited to see the pope in Istanbul.
“Muslim Christians are dying in Iraq,” said Tony Quta, who has applied for refugee status with the United Nations Humanitarian Refugee Council. “I am very happy to see him today, I came to see him, and I thank President Erdogan for everything.”“Muslim Christians are dying in Iraq,” said Tony Quta, who has applied for refugee status with the United Nations Humanitarian Refugee Council. “I am very happy to see him today, I came to see him, and I thank President Erdogan for everything.”
Turkey shelters more than a million refugees from Syria and maintains an open-border policy for Iraqi and Syrian civilians who have escaped violence. Turkey shelters at least 1.6 million refugees from Syria and maintains an open-border policy for Iraqi and Syrian civilians who have escaped violence.
The pope’s visit is considered a message of solidarity with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church, which represents nearly 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. It has been based in Constantinople, now Istanbul, since the sixth century, though the institution is not recognized by the Turkish state.The pope’s visit is considered a message of solidarity with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church, which represents nearly 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. It has been based in Constantinople, now Istanbul, since the sixth century, though the institution is not recognized by the Turkish state.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, speaking to reporters on Saturday, praised the cooperation between the churches and said that he and Pope Francis would continue to pray “together for the unity of our churches of the divided Christendom as well as the peace in the Middle East and around the globe.”Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, speaking to reporters on Saturday, praised the cooperation between the churches and said that he and Pope Francis would continue to pray “together for the unity of our churches of the divided Christendom as well as the peace in the Middle East and around the globe.”
Both leaders were expected to discuss concerns about the fading of Christianity in its historical birthplaces and threats against their communities in the Middle East, officials of the patriarchate said.Both leaders were expected to discuss concerns about the fading of Christianity in its historical birthplaces and threats against their communities in the Middle East, officials of the patriarchate said.
“In our journey of faith and fraternal living,” Pope Francis said in his sermon at the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, “the more we allow ourselves to be humbly guided by the Spirit of Lord, the more we will overcome misunderstandings, divisions, and disagreements and be a credible sign of unity and peace.”“In our journey of faith and fraternal living,” Pope Francis said in his sermon at the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, “the more we allow ourselves to be humbly guided by the Spirit of Lord, the more we will overcome misunderstandings, divisions, and disagreements and be a credible sign of unity and peace.”