Ruth Sherlock
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
He steps into a heated and complex political environment where lots of competing groups have their own hopes and expectations for this papal visit.
For example, Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia,
has called upon the Pope to express his, quote, rejection to the injustice and aggression of continued Israeli airstrikes against the group despite a ceasefire.
And some Lebanese hope Pope Leo can hold Lebanon's political class to account for the vast corruption in the country and over the explosion in 2020 when large stores of ammonium nitrate triggered a blast that devastated the capital, Beirut.
Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, on the Papal Plain to Lebanon.
This was the first time Pope Leo has visited a Muslim place of worship since he became the leader of the Catholic Church.
He removed his shoes as is customary for entering the vast religious space.
He walked in white socks across the red carpeted floor as he was given a tour by the mosque's imam and the mufti of Istanbul.
The imam told reporters he invited Leo to pray, but the Pope declined.
The Vatican said in a statement afterwards that, quote, the Pope experienced his visit to the mosque in silence, in a spirit of contemplation and listening, with deep respect for the place and the faith of those who gather there in prayer.
Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Istanbul, Turkey.
This was the first time Pope Leo has visited a Muslim place of worship since he became the leader of the Catholic Church.
He removed his shoes as is customary for entering the vast religious space.
He walked in white socks across the red carpeted floor as he was given a tour by the mosque's Imam and the Mufti of Istanbul.
The Imam told reporters he invited Leo to pray, but the Pope declined.
The Vatican said in a statement afterwards that, quote, the Pope experienced his visit to the mosque in silence, in a spirit of contemplation and listening.
with deep respect for the place and the faith of those who gather there in prayer.
Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Istanbul, Turkey.
This was the first time Pope Leo has visited a Muslim place of worship since he became the leader of the Catholic Church.
He removed his shoes as is customary for entering the vast religious space.