The Pope prays with the grand mufti of Istanbul during his mosque visit. (Photo downloaded from: http://www.catholic.org/international/ international_story.php?id=22182)

In November Golden Year 3 (2006), Pope Benedict XVI paid a historic visit to Turkey, reaching out to Muslims and Orthodox Christians there. Pope Benedict was the second Roman Catholic Pope in history to have visited a Muslim country, the first being Pope John Paul II, his predecessor. During his time in the culturally rich city of Istanbul, the 79-year-old pope visited the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, popularly known as the Blue Mosque, where he stood in a traditional Muslim prayer called “the posture of tranquillity,” facing Mecca. The pope’s guide during his visit to the mosque was Mustafa Cagrici, the grand mufti of Istanbul, who stated: “It was something beautiful, this gesture on his part.”

Pope Benedict also visited the Hagia Sophia, originally known as the Church of Holy Wisdom. Inside this 6th-century structure are beautiful Byzantine mosaics of Christ and Mary, as well as wooden ceiling medallions inscribed with inscribed calligraphic names of Allah and Mohammed. Before his departure, the pope wrote in the Hagia Sophia’s guest book: “In our diversity, we find ourselves before faith in the one God. May God enlighten us and help us find the path of love and peace.”

References: http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=292021&area=/
breaking_news/breaking_news__international_news/

http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=22182

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