Istanbul

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After traveling to Istanbul on July 25, 1967, for a celebration at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, the pope visited the Orthodox patriarchal Church of St. George with the ecumenical patriarch, Athenagoras I, Orthodox archbishop of Constantinople, three years after exchanging a kiss of peace together during a pilgrimage and peace tour of the Holy Land.

Remembering Pope Paul VI’s historic visit to Turkey

Jul 25, 2024

By Nathalie Ritzmann

On July 25, 1967, Pope Paul VI set foot on Turkish soil — the first papal visit to Istanbul since... Read more

Kariye, the former Byzantine Church of St. Savior in Chora in Istanbul in 2020.

PHOTOS: Former Byzantine Church converted to a mosque in Istanbul is reopened

May 9, 2024

By Nathalie Ritzmann

The Church of St. Savior in Chora was converted into a mosque in 1511, then became a museum in 1948... Read more

Byzantine era icons in the interior of the church.

Another Byzantine-era church in Turkey to revert to mosque

Feb 13, 2024

By ACI MENA

After serving as a museum for more than 79 years, the Turkish government is proceeding with plans to make the... Read more

Bishop Massimiliano Palinuro arrives at the Jan. 29, 2024, funeral of Tuncer Murat Cihan, 52, who was murdered during Sunday Mass at Santa Maria Italian Church on Jan. 28 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Victim of Istanbul attack was a Muslim who often went to Catholic Mass

Jan 31, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The sole victim of Sunday’s attack on a Catholic church in Istanbul was a Muslim man who regularly attended Mass,... Read more

President Recep Erdogan in 2020 converted the former Byzantine church, the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque.

How difficult is it to be a Christian in Turkey? What you need to know

Jan 29, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Terrorists stormed a Catholic church during Mass on Sunday in Istanbul, Turkey, killing one person by shooting him in the... Read more

Turkish police stand guard outside the scene of an armed attack at a Catholic church in Istanbul, Turkey, on Jan. 28, 2024.

Islamic State claims responsibility for attack on Catholic church in Istanbul

Jan 29, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Two suspects described as members of the Islamic State group have been arrested following the shooting at Santa Maria Church... Read more

The scene outside a Catholic church in Istanbul, Turkey, where a reported armed attack took place on Jan. 28, 2024.

One person killed in shooting at Catholic church in Istanbul, manhunt underway

Jan 28, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Bishop Massimiliano Palinuro, the apostolic vicar of Istanbul, told EWTN News on Jan. 28 that a parishioner was killed “during... Read more

Pope Francis at the Vatican, April 3, 2014.

After Istanbul attack, Pope prays for those who fight 'bloody stain' of terrorism

Jan 1, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

On the first day of the new year and the 50th World Day of Peace, Pope Francis condemned a terrorist... Read more