Lenten Campaign 2025
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Pope Francis ended his recent trip to Turkey with a liturgy alongside Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, after which the two leaders issued a joint statement. Francis also met with young refugees from Syria and Iraq. Earlier, on Saturday, Pope Francis bowed to Bartholomew, asking for his blessing, a gesture of brotherhood and desire for unity. The pope also took part in a Muslim prayer alongside the grand mufti of Istanbul inside the 17th-century Sultan Ahmet Mosque (the Blue Mosque). Francis also visited the Haghia Sofia, which was the main Byzantine church in Istanbul — formerly Constantinople. In a speech, the pontiff urged Muslim leaders to condemn the barbaric violence being committed in Islam’s name against religious minorities, and he called for greater dialogue and efforts among people of all faiths. This video highlights a number of these signgicant moments.
And today we celebrate...