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lapucelle

(20,925 posts)

26. It may have had something to do with the way that the invitation was extended.

Sun Nov 30, 2025, 04:40 PM

Nov 30

Praying at a mosque and worshiping at a mosque are two different things.

“I offered [to] him, if he would like to worship here, but he said ‘no, I am just going to look around,” Tunca said afterwards, explaining that “they told me” the pope was going to “pray here”.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/29/europe/pope-leo-istanbul-blue-mosque-intl

Leo did not pray at the mosque despite an invitation by an imam. Speaking to reporters after the visit, Asgin Tunca said he had told the pope that the mosque was "Allah's house."

"It's not my house, not your house, (it's the) house of Allah," he said. He said he told Leo: "'If you want, you can worship here,' I said. But he said, 'That's OK.'"

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-leo-xiv-travel-blue-mosque-istanbul-turkey/

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Highlight:

Pope removes shoes but doesn't pray on visit to Istanbul's Blue Mosque [View all] Polybius Nov 30 OP

Why would the pope pray at a mosque? RandySF Nov 30 #1

His precedessors did, and the Vatican press release had expected him to muriel_volestrangler Nov 30 #5

Only in recent years Polybius Nov 30 #14

It said he wasn't invited to pray IbogaProject Nov 30 #17

" he asked Leo during the tour if he wished to pray for a moment, but the pope said he preferred to just visit" muriel_volestrangler Nov 30 #22

It may have had something to do with the way that the invitation was extended. lapucelle Nov 30 #26

I was hoping that he just didn't want to do it n/t Polybius Tuesday #38

Because Christians, Muslims and Jews all pray to the God of Abraham TexasBushwhacker Tuesday #39

It was simply a gesture of love and respect... ananda Nov 30 #2

When I was escorted into a mosque Zackzzzz Nov 30 #3

what i did not know : shoes of the fisherman rampartd Nov 30 #4

I think Peter DID fish in Louisiana. COL Mustard Nov 30 #9

"Not appearing to pray..." Mike Nelson Nov 30 #6

In the early 2000s I took off my shoes in the Blue Mosque truthisfreedom Nov 30 #7

The only time I've been in a mosque, I didn't pray either MurrayDelph Nov 30 #11

The more interesting part for me was the diyanet did not meet with him. Joinfortmill Nov 30 #8

Being an atheist makes all of this senseless. kellytore Nov 30 #10

But you couldn't help but put your two cents in. Martin68 Nov 30 #13

My two cents are in too. We are up to four. Believers are upset when confronted but non-believers are cast as being odd. twodogsbarking Nov 30 #16

Surprise, I'm an atheist too. Martin68 Nov 30 #32

I have learned to not try and explain what I do not understand. Atheist seems to be a religious label. twodogsbarking Nov 30 #34

My statement was a little more that what you wrote, but that's okay I'll forgive you. kellytore Monday #36

All a big to do about nothing? paleotn Nov 30 #29

Cents and sensibility. Beartracks Nov 30 #30

Why wouldn't the Pope pray during a visit to a mosque? Martin68 Nov 30 #12

Maybe he thought a Catholic praying in a mosque would have been sacrilegious jmowreader Nov 30 #31

If the Pope is his god's representative, then he can pray wherever he happens to be. If a mosque somehow magically Martin68 Nov 30 #33

This message was self-deleted by its author kellytore Monday #37

Religions sure have nice buildings. twodogsbarking Nov 30 #15

So do many museums, the Red Cross and both political parties. What's your point? Wonder Why Nov 30 #18

Religions have nice buildings. They really are. twodogsbarking Nov 30 #19

You're right. That's why they put them on Christmas cards! Wonder Why Nov 30 #23

Yep, they're built for humans within them to feel the glory of God. ancianita Nov 30 #25

Since he wasn't invited to (by the person who didn't come) maybe it would have been pnwmom Nov 30 #20

Beat me to it. My thoughts as well. paleotn Nov 30 #28

I don't buy that. They both believe in one god, and they both believe on prayer. Martin68 Nov 30 #35

I don't think they expect Christians and Jews to join in the prayers when they visit Warpy Nov 30 #21

Neither did I! Floyd R. Turbo Nov 30 #24

I interpret this as the Pope sending a message blue-wave Nov 30 #27