Pope Francis visited the Blue Mosque in Istanbul

Pope Francis visited the famous Blue Mosque in Istanbul on Saturday, during the second day of his stay in Turkey, reports the BH news agency Patria.

Along with the mufti who was praying, the Pope meditated for two minutes with his eyes closed, hands clasped, as his predecessor Benedict XVI symbolically did eight years ago in the same place.

The Grand Mufti of Istanbul, Rahmi Yaran, toured the impressive building, built at the beginning of the 17th century during the reign of Sultan Ahmet I, who then ruled the Ottoman Empire, with Pope Francis.

The two dignitaries lingered for a long time in front of the "mihrab" where Surah 19 from the Quran, which speaks of Mary's immaculate conception, is displayed.

The Pope then traveled in his vehicle to the Sultanahmet area leading to the Hagia Sophia basilica, a Byzantine church built in the 6th century, converted into a mosque when the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople in 1453.