The Pope “pained” by conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque
Pope Francis. Photo: forbes.ru
On July 12, 2020, Pope Francis broke the silence and declared he was “saddened” by the decision to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque, the publication Сruxnow.com reports.
Recalling the International Day of the Sea, which is celebrated on the second Sunday of July, Pope Francis in a traditional address to believers, said, “The sea carries my thoughts farther to Istanbul. I’m thinking of Santa Sofia ... I am very pained.”
The publication reports that "his brief commentary met with applause from the small group of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the occasion."
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Phanar was disappointed by the silence of the Pope regarding Hagia Sophia.
Read also
US Secretary of Defense to the Army: God extends His arms over you
Pete Hegseth stated that American military personnel are "no longer defenders" but warriors "trained to destroy the enemy."
MP demands answers from Rivne authorities over UOC charity event
Bobrovska expressed outrage that city officials allowed the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC to hold a charity festival that raised money for children with cancer.
In U.S., Archbishop of Albania leads Divine Liturgy on Triumph of Orthodoxy
The Primate of the Albanian Church served in Massachusetts and called for visible unity among Orthodox jurisdictions.
Phanar backs common Easter date with Catholics and Protestants
Theologians of the Patriarchate of Constantinople have proposed revising calendar practice and bringing the celebration of Easter closer to the Western tradition.
DESS congratulates Ukraine’s Jews on Purim
The State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience addressed Ukraine’s Jewish community on the occasion of Purim.
Patriarch Bartholomew becomes honorary professor of ecology in Greece
The Ionian University of Greece has awarded Patriarch Bartholomew the honorary title of professor in its Department of Environment.