THE PONTIFF'S VISIT TO TURKEY

POPE LEO XIV visited Turkey's Blue Mosque in Istanbul, removing his shoes out of respect but not praying during his first visit to that nation.

The mosque is a sacred Muslim place of worship.

The first American pope bowed slightly before entering the mosque and was led on a tour of the expansive complex.

The Vatican appeared surprised that the pontiff had not stopped to pray during the visit and had not been welcomed to the mosque by the head of Turkey's state-run organization -- known as the diyanet -- as had been planned.

It was observed that the Holy Father didn't pray out of disrespect but out of conviction, noting that he doesn't belong to the Muslim faith.