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World

Pope Francis visits iconic Muslim and Christian sites in Istanbul

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Pope Francis stands at the mausoleum of modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Under heavy security measures Pope Francis arrived in Turkey for a three-day visit. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

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    Pope Francis waves to journalists as he stands by Istanbul Mufti Rahmi Yaran upon their arrival to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. Pope Francis visits two of Turkey's most iconic sites and shifts gears toward more religious affairs as he arrives in Istanbul for the second leg of his three-day visit to the Muslim nation. The Vatican says Francis will tour Istanbul's Sultan Ahmet mosque on Saturday and pause for a moment of "reflection." (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) (The Associated Press)

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    Pope Francis waves to journalists as he leaves the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. Pope Francis visits two of Turkey's most iconic sites and shifts gears toward more religious affairs as he arrives in Istanbul for the second leg of his three-day visit to the Muslim nation. The Vatican says Francis will tour Istanbul's Sultan Ahmet mosque on Saturday and pause for a moment of "reflection." (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) (The Associated Press)

ISTANBUL – Pope Francis visits two of Turkey's most iconic sites and shifts gears toward more religious affairs as he arrives in Istanbul for the second leg of his three-day visit to the Muslim nation.

The Vatican says Francis will tour Istanbul's Sultan Ahmet mosque on Saturday and pause for a moment of "reflection." When Pope Benedict XVI visited Turkey in 2006 amid heightened Christian-Muslim tensions, the Vatican added a stop at the mosque at the last minute in a bid to show his respect for Islam.

The gesture was appreciated by many Turks, and Francis is set to follow in Benedict's footsteps.

Francis will also visit nearby Haghia Sofia, the Byzantine church-turned-mosque that is now a museum. All eyes will be on whether he prays at the sensitive site.