From America Magazine
Pope Francis prayed for some moments in the Sultan Ahmet Mosque in Istanbul on the second day of his visit to Turkey. He did so standing alongside the Grand Mufti of this city, head bowed, eyes closed.
“It was a moment of silent adoration”, the Vatican spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., who accompanied the Pope in the mosque, explained afterwards.
He revealed that Pope Francis twice told the Grand Mufti, “We must adore God, not just praise and glorify him.”
The prayer was part of a ‘beautiful moment’ of inter-religious dialogue, Fr. Lombardi commented. He explained that at one point the Grand Mufti said to the Pope, “God is a God of justice and of mercy. We are in agreement on this?” . “I agree”, Pope Francis replied without hesitation.
The Jesuit Pope visited the mosque, known as the Blue Mosque because of the color of the tiles that decorate the interior of this beautiful building, soon after arriving in this city of 13 million people that straddles two continents – Europe and Asia, on the morning of November 29.
Welcomed by the Grand Mufti at the entrance to the mosque, the Pope took off his shoes and then entered, accompanied by the Grand Mufti, another mufti and two imams. One of them then explained the history and architecture of this magnificent mosque which was built between 1609 and 1612. He prayed after the Grand Mufti explained some verses of the Koran to him, and showed him where the mihrab is.
By praying in the Blue Mosque, Pope Francis confirmed yet again his great respect for Islam, one of the three great monotheistic religions in the world alongside Judaism and Christianity. As archbishop of Buenos Aires he had close links with Muslims, and last May he invited his friend, Omar Abboud, the Director of an Islamic Centre in that city, to accompany him on his visit to the Holy Land, together with Rabbi Skorka.
