Erdogan Invites Pope Francis to Visit Hagia Sophia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has invited Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, to visit Hagia Sophia, as reported by the Anadolu Agency.

According to Turkey's presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin, Ankara has extended invitations to everyone, including Pope Francis, to the mosque.

Last week, Pope Francis condemned Turkey's decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque. “I think about Hagia Sophia and I feel very sad,” said the pontiff.

“We are taking steps to ensure that during Muslim prayers, the mosaics are covered and not disturbed. Our goal is to ensure that the mosaics, images, and the architecture of the building are preserved,” Kalin told CNN.

The Turkish official noted that the Hagia Sophia mosque would be open to believers of all religions – Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, as well as non-believers, in other words, everyone.

“The reaction to converting Hagia Sophia into a mosque is based on old views and prejudices. There is religious freedom in Turkey,” emphasized Kalin.

The Hagia Sophia mosque will open for prayers on July 24. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the first prayer service will have a limited number of attendees, including President Erdogan.