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Pope to make his first visit to a Muslim country

Saturday 13 September 2014 00:35 BST

Pope Francis will visit Istanbul in November (AP)

Pope Francis will visit Istanbul in November, his first trip to a predominantly Muslim nation.

The Vatican said yesterday that the Pope is expected to mark an important Orthodox feast day on 30 November with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians.

Perhaps more importantly, the trip will give Francis the chance to visit a Muslim nation — and speak to the Muslim world — at a time when Christians are being targeted by the Islamic State group in Iraq.

A common plea for peace by Francis and Bartholomew would show a united Christian front against the militant onslaught.

In pictures: 'The many popes of Pope Francis'

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1/12In pictures: 'The many popes of Pope Francis'

In pictures: 'The many popes of Pope Francis'

The Pro-Gay Pope

In just a year, Pope Francis has managed to change the public perception of the Catholic Church, and the stance it takes on civil issues, like gay rights. Despite originally protesting the legalisation of gay marriage in his native Argentina some years ago, he told reporters this year: “If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with good will, who am I to judge?”

Getty Images

In pictures: 'The many popes of Pope Francis'

The Rebel Pope

No other Pope has urged a shake-up of the Catholic Church quite like Pope Francis, a true rebel of the dioceses. Who, incidentally, used to be a night club bouncer.

Getty Images

In pictures: 'The many popes of Pope Francis'

The Graffiti Pope

Pope Francis become... SUPER POPE in this Vatican-approved street art. But was he happy with the reference to the fictional DC comic character?"To depict the pope as a sort of superman, a sort of star, seems offensive to me. The pope is a man who laughs, cries, sleeps tranquilly and has friends like everyone else, a normal person," he said. So, that's a no, then.

In pictures: 'The many popes of Pope Francis'

The Biker Pope

Yes, the Pope used to own a Harley Davidson. And yes, he auctioned it off this year and donated the proceeds to a charity that feeds the hungry in Rome. Very Papal.

In pictures: 'The many popes of Pope Francis'

The ‘Blue’ Pope

Dropping the 'F' bomb during Sunday service? Classic Pope Francis. Sadly, down to a Spanish-speaking slip of the Italian language rather than pure bad-assery.

In pictures: 'The many popes of Pope Francis'

The ‘Because I’m Worth It’ Pope

That awkward moment when your Papal hat blows off, forcing your barnet into Sesame Street-like spikes. Pope Francis has been there.

In pictures: 'The many popes of Pope Francis'

The Chocolate Pope

Imagine the Pope's delight (horror?) when he was presented with a giant chocolate replica of himself outside the Vatican by by students on a chocolatier course at the Accademia of Maestri Cioccolatieri, near Venice.

EPA/Osservatore Romano

In pictures: 'The many popes of Pope Francis'

The Rock Star pope

The one and only religious leader ever to grace the cover of Rolling Stone magazine? Introducing... Pope Francis.

In pictures: 'The many popes of Pope Francis'

The People’s Pope

His U-turn attitude towards sexuality won him Time magazine's coveted Person of the Year accolade, and the cover of gay rights magazine The Advocate.

Time

In pictures: 'The many popes of Pope Francis'

The Merchandise Pope

Thongs, mugs, onesies, earrings and even a baby mobile adorned with decapitated Pope heads, the 'Francis Effect' has seen sales of Papal merchandise soar by 200% over the last year.

In pictures: 'The many popes of Pope Francis'

The Fashion Pope

The only Pope, as far as we're aware, to be compared to fashion royalty (Karl Lagerfeld. Yes way.) and win Esquire's Most Stylish Man of 2013 award, too.

EPA

In pictures: 'The many popes of Pope Francis'

The Modern Pope

Let it be said, Pope Francis knows a thing or two about social media. He might be a way off 'doing a Dalai' and opting for Instagram, but he's not above posing for the odd 'Selfie' on Twitter.

Francis has said military force was legitimate to stop the militants, but has said it was for the international community to decide how to go about it.

Francis had wanted to visit Kurdistan to show solidarity with the Christians forced to flee their homes. In the end, it wasn't possible and Francis instead sent a personal envoy.

Confirmation of the trip came as the United States sought to press Turkey to better seal its borders to prevent fighters and funding from flowing to the Islamic State militants.

REUTERS

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