Pope Francis prays in Istanbul's Blue Mosque
- 9 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
STORY: Pope Francis prayed silently alongside a senior Islamic cleric in Istanbul's Blue Mosque on Saturday (November 29), as a gesture of inter-religious harmony in a country bordering the conflicts of Syria and Iraq.
Francis took off his shoes as he entered the huge mosque, before bowing his head in prayer for several minutes, facing Mecca and standing next to Istanbul's Grand Mufti Rahmi Yaran, in what a Vatican spokesman described as a joint "moment of silent adoration" of God.
A similar act by his predecessor Pope Benedict in 2006 drew criticism from conservative Catholics and some Muslims.
Islamic State insurgents have captured swathes of neighboring Syria and Iraq, persecuting and killing Shi'ite Muslims, Christians and others who do not share their ultra-radical brand of Sunni Islam.
Francis said on Friday (November 28), that fighting hunger and poverty, rather than military intervention alone, was key to stopping
STORY: Pope Francis prayed silently alongside a senior Islamic cleric in Istanbul's Blue Mosque on Saturday (November 29), as a gesture of inter-religious harmony in a country bordering the conflicts of Syria and Iraq.
Francis took off his shoes as he entered the huge mosque, before bowing his head in prayer for several minutes, facing Mecca and standing next to Istanbul's Grand Mufti Rahmi Yaran, in what a Vatican spokesman described as a joint "moment of silent adoration" of God.
A similar act by his predecessor Pope Benedict in 2006 drew criticism from conservative Catholics and some Muslims.
Islamic State insurgents have captured swathes of neighboring Syria and Iraq, persecuting and killing Shi'ite Muslims, Christians and others who do not share their ultra-radical brand of Sunni Islam.
Francis said on Friday (November 28), that fighting hunger and poverty, rather than military intervention alone, was key to stopping