The conversion of the Istanbul Museum of Hagia Sophia into a mosque "hurts" his Holiness Pope Francis. On Sunday, he spoke from his window on St. Peter's square, looking out over the sea, and departed from the script when he said: "And the sea brings me with my thoughts a little further: after Istanbul. I think of St. Sophia, and it hurts me very much.“ More, the Catholic Church leader said, was clearly a reference to the decision of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to make the Hagia Sophia a mosque.
The Hagia Sophia was built in the 6. Century after Christ built and was considered the largest and most important Cathedral of the Byzantine Empire, before it was after the conquest of Constantinople (today Istanbul) by the Ottomans in 1453 under Sultan Mehmet II mosque. The Turkish Republic's founder, Kemal Ataturk operation, the conversion of the mosque into a Museum, and ultimately the Council of Ministers decided in 1934.
The world Council of churches had expressed on Saturday also Regret about the decision. The Hagia Sophia was "a place of openness, encounter and Inspiration for people of all countries". The Ecumenical organization based in Geneva, your Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican churches belong to.
Also, the Turkish community in Germany criticized the planned conversion of the Hagia Sophia vin a mosque. The building is a world heritage site and a Symbol of peaceful coexistence of religions, said the Chairman, Gökay Sofuoglu, the "editors' network Germany". "That makes it a mosque, is an absolute wrong decision." The Turkey will be the country condemned, which could not cope with such a heritage, warned Sofuoglu. Many people would not in the least because of the Hagia Sophia to Istanbul and would not be expected to do so. In the surroundings there are plenty of other mosques. "You should make with religious symbols, not a policy," said Sofuoglu. Opponents of the decision should not be depicted as enemies of the Islamic Religion.
Date Of Update: 12 July 2020, 10:19
