The welcoming ceremony will take place at the Presidential Palace where the Pope will meet with the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. He will also meet with the president of Religious Affairs.

On Saturday he will arrive in Istanbul for the most important part of trip. He will visit the former basilica of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. He will then preside over a Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and attend an ecumenical prayer service with Patriarch Bartholomew I.

On Sunday, he will celebrate a Divine Liturgy at the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to celebrate the feast of Saint Andrew.

That same day, Pope Francis will depart Istanbul at 5 in the afternoon and will arrive in Rome shortly before 7:00pm.

via Pope Francis to Visit the Istanbul’s Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.

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