Words can unite, but also divide. Starting with the translation of the word God. In Turkish, but also in Arabic, the correct term is Allah. But the word is indigestible to the most intransigent Christians because it is considered too Islamic. Conversely, in Indonesia, for example, where Christians would like to use it, those who do so risk arrest or worse because Muslims consider it their heritage.
Perhaps this is also why Leone preferred to remain silent and only ask for some explanations on the Sultan Hamed mosque, the one known as the blue mosque for the 21,043 turquoise ceramic tilescoming from ancient Nicaea, which decorate it.
The mosque, the blue one has six minarets, surpassed in this only by that of Mecca, it is a place of prayer, but above all of education. Immediately after the entrance, large panels explain the basics of the faith. Starting right from the words. The meaning of “Quran”, which, literally, means “to read” or “that which is read”.
The journalists – and women – who followed the visit (including us) had to leave their shoes on and the women had to cover their heads. However, an exception was made by allowing everyone enters an area of the mosque where only men enter.
The entrance where you leave your shoes
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The Pope passed in front of the “Mihrab”, the marble niche that indicates the direction of Mecca, where Sura number 19 is contained which refers to the Virgin Mary.
In fact, Muslims recognize the Madonna as the mother of Jesus and report, in the Koran, in Sura 19 at verse 19-21, the announcement of the archangel Gabriel, “messenger of the Lord”, of the birth of a son despite never having “known man”.
the marble “niche” indicating Mecca
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For Muslims, however, Jesus is a prophet and messenger of God. Those who enter the mosque are also explained how Jesus is considered by both Jews and Christians. In particular it is said that «for Islam, God is always perfect. To believe that he became man means to affirm that he is (or was for a certain moment) imperfect, for example “when he was a weak and defenseless child, who could not survive without food, water and sleep.”
To make catechesis accessible to the largest number of people, brochures translated into different languages are found in mosques. Not only the comparison with other religions, but, something that is very important to Muslims, the comparison with those who do not believe.
Catechesis through booklets
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Pope Leo’s brief visit was accompanied from the cry of a crow and the coming and going of one of the numerous cats that populate Istanbul. Unlike dogs considered impure, the cat is also welcome and protected in places of prayer.
One of the cats present in the mosque during the Pope’s visit
It is said, but it is a legend that has also spread in the West, that a cat was near Maria at the moment of the announcement and that she had caressed it. For this reason in particular on the head of red or mixed-breed cats, a sort of «M» like «Maria» is often found on the source.
Cat with red with M visible
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