Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the nearly 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia, which was once a Christian cathedral, would remain open to Muslims, Christians and foreigners
Pope Francis delivers his blessing to faithful during the Angelus prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, July 12, 2020.Pope Francis said on Sunday he was hurt by Turkey’s decision to make Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia museum a mosque, the latest religious leader to condemn the move.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said the first prayers would be held in Hagia Sophia on July 24, after declaring the ancient monument was once again a mosque following a court ruling revoking its status as a museum.The World Council of Churches has called on Erdogan to reverse his decision and Patriarch Bartholomew, the Istanbul-based spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, called it disappointing.
He added that Turkey had exercised its sovereign right in converting it to a mosque and would interpret criticism of the move as an attack on its independence.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘I was born into a new life’: How a Canadian street priest became a Catholic cardinal overnightMichael Czerny has emerged as one of Pope Francis's top advisers on migrants and the environment, and will help to choose the pontiff's successor
Read more »
Embattled Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg has history of controversyThe museum and its morals have been questioned recently as numerous Black and Indigenous current and former employees shared stories of racism, discrimination and censorship
Read more »
Supreme Court upholds genetic non-discrimination lawJustices split but majority decision rejects Quebec's claim the law transgresses on provincial jurisdictions
Read more »
Big 3 Grocers Say Pandemic Pay Cut Was Made Independently Despite EmailsExecutives made calls and exchanged emails but say the decisions were made due to several factors.
Read more »
Grocery giants defend company decision to stop pandemic pay subsidiesAll three executives say the companies reached their decisions independently based on numerous factors that for some included knowing a competitor\u0027s plan
Read more »
Morneau didn't recuse himself from decision on WE contract, despite daughters' connection to charityFinance Minister Bill Morneau did not recuse himself from the federal cabinet decision to grant WE Charity a contract to deliver a now-halted $900 million COVID-19 student grant program, despite his two daughters having connections to the organization.
Read more »