Pope Leo XIV visited a historic mosque in Turkey during his first foreign trip — and although he customarily took off his shoes, the pontiff declined to join in prayer, according to reports.

The Chicago-born leader of the Catholic Church attended Istanbul’s Blue Mosque on Saturday — with the Holy Father removing his footwear as a sign of respect to the iconic house of worship, which requires the removal of shoes by all visitors.

Then touring the mosque in just his white dress socks, Pope Leo XIV did not appear to engage in prayer.

The muezzin of the Blue Mosque, who is responsible for the call to prayer, told journalists that he explicitly invited the pope to pray, but the Holy Father said he preferred just to visit the holy site.

His decision to sidestep prayer caught the Vatican off

See Full Page