Pope removes shoes but doesn't pray on visit to Istanbul's Blue Mosque

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. His precedessors did, and the Vatican press release had expected him to

From the BBC report:

The Pontiff was seen bowing as he entered the building, but it is reported he did not pray at the mosque, as his two predecessors had done.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gp917zr8no

From Reuters:

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

About three hours after the visit, the Vatican released a press statement saying both the prayer and the welcome had occurred, although they had not. The Vatican press office said the release had been sent in error.

Askin Musa Tunca, the muezzin, told journalists after the mosque visit that he asked Leo during the tour if he wished to pray for a moment, but the pope said he preferred to just visit the mosque.