Conversion of Hagia Sophia museum into the mosque, Pope Francis 'very pained'.

Hagia Sophia mosque

Hagia Sophia a living monument was constructed as a church. It became a mosque in 1453 and a museum in 1935. On Friday, the Turkish court declared to turn it again into the mosque. On Sunday, Pope Francis from Vatican City said he was very pained by this decision in his weekly blessing.

“My thoughts go to Istanbul. I think of Santa Sophia and I am very pained,”

The Hagia Sophia is a magnet for tourists especially Muslims and Christians. It was constructed as a cathedral by the Byzantine empire. It was there where they crowned there emperor. It was conquered and converted to a mosque in 1453 during the ottoman conquest of Constantinople. It became a museum in 1935 When Mustafa Kamal set out to create a secular country.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said the first prayer would be held on July 24. The World Council of Churches has asked Erdogan to take this decision back. The world's Orthodox Christians called it disappointing.

Greece has condemned this move. UNESCO said they will review Hagia Sophia's status and Turkish decision has raised questions about the impact on its universal value.

The Vatican City newspaper carried reactions from different countries on this issue. Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis also disliked the decision. It was said that this will affect not only the Turkish and Greece relationship but also the relationship with the European Union.

The issue of conversion of the Hagia Sophia museum to Mosque dominated the Greece Newspapers headlines.

Erdogan rebuffed protests from other countries by saying:

"Those Who do not take a step against Islamophobia in their own countries ... attack Turkey's will to use its sovereign rights."

Feel free to criticize no need to sign in.