Papa Francis prays facing Mecca in mosque

[Paprika]

There's bound to be a good explanation for this.

[Catholicity]

here read this dialogue from CBS news and see another take on it. However this is not an opportunity for debate just to read from primary news:

The Orthodox make up barely one percent of the population of Turkey, and feel increasingly under pressure in a country that is 98 percent Muslim.


The first event of the day, a visit to the 17-century Sultan Ahmet mosque (famously known as the Blue Mosque), served to undercut some of the pressure the Pope is feeling from his hosts who are concerned over what they see as growing "Islamophobic paranoia" in the West.

Turkish religious officials have expressed concern at the increase in attacks on mosques in Europe.

CBS correspondent Allen Pizzey reports a theme of the trip is religious freedom, which the Pope defined as "an eloquent sign of peace."

Francis prayed alongside Rahmi Yaran, the Grand Mufti of Istanbul, who had his palms turned toward the sky in a Muslim prayer.

"May God accept it," Yaran told the pope at the conclusion of a poignant moment of Christian-Muslim understanding.

[Teallaura]

Um, aren't mosques oriented toward Mecca?

[Paprika]

Um, aren't mosques oriented toward Mecca?

If a building is oriented in a certain direction, does it mean that however you stand in it you're necessarily facing that direction?

[Paprika]

here read this dialogue from CBS news and see another take on it. However this is not an opportunity for debate just to read from primary news:

I don't recall making this thread here. Did you move it, perchance?

[Bill the Cat]

I don't recall making this thread here. Did you move it, perchance?

Moderated By: Bill the Cat

No. the mod for that forum did. Since this is talking about Catholicism AND Islam, it fits in Comp Rel

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[robrecht]

Papa Francis prays facing Mecca in mosque

There's bound to be a good explanation for this.

Is your objection to inter-religious dialogue and worship? Would you also object to Jews and Christians praying the Our Father together? Would you also object to Jews and Muslims praying together, assuming they agreed upon a prayer?

[shunyadragon]

There's bound to be a good explanation for this.

Basically it is most likely a personal effort to show respect and acknowledge other religions 'diplomatically,' and does not change nor reflect the underlying Doctrine and Dogma of the Roman Church. This change in improving PR and diplomacy outside the Roman Church is mainly a product of the Vatican II.

[Adrift]

Is your objection to inter-religious dialogue or worship? Would you also object to Jews and Christians praying the Our Father together? Would you also object to Jews and Muslims praying together, assuming they agreed upon a prayer?

When I read the title at first, I was a bit surprised. Purposefully praying towards Mecca as part of inter-religious dialogue could easily be taken as affirmation of (or maybe even submission to) Islam. That might not be a big deal if you're just Joe Average, but when we're talking the pope, the leader of the largest Christian community in the world, that's pretty "yikes!" type stuff. But then, after reading the article, and Catholicity and Teal's posts, yeah, it makes sense that if you're in a mosque you're probably going to be oriented towards Mecca. So its not like he looked for the direction of Mecca and intentionally turned that way in a ritualistic sense. That puts a bit of a different spin on things as far I'm concerned.

[Paprika]

Is your objection to inter-religious dialogue and worship?

No.

I do see, however, some problems with certain inter-religious worship practices.

Would you also object to Jews and Christians praying the Our Father together?

I don't see any reason in general to object, though in specific situations it may not be a good thing.

Would you also object to Jews and Muslims praying together, assuming they agreed upon a prayer?

Why should I? I don't belong to either group, after all.

[Paprika]

When I read the title at first, I was a bit surprised. Purposefully praying towards Mecca as part of inter-religious dialogue could easily be taken as affirmation of (or maybe even submission to) Islam...it makes sense that if you're in a mosque you're probably going to be oriented towards Mecca. So its not like he looked for the direction of Mecca and intentionally turned that way in a ritualistic sense.

How does it make a difference? Are you suggesting that the Pope had no idea that he would be praying facing Mecca? If not, then he would be purposefully praying in that direction.

[robrecht]

No.

I do see, however, some problems with certain inter-religious worship practices.

I don't see any reason in general to object, though in specific situations it may not be a good thing.

Why should I? I don't belong to either group, after all.

Is there anything specific that you are objecting to here?

[Paprika]

here read this dialogue from CBS news and see another take on it. However this is not an opportunity for debate just to read from primary news:

And what point is this supposed to make?

[robrecht]

When I read the title at first, I was a bit surprised. Purposefully praying towards Mecca as part of inter-religious dialogue could easily be taken as affirmation of (or maybe even submission to) Islam. That might not be a big deal if you're just Joe Average, but when we're talking the pope, the leader of the largest Christian community in the world, that's pretty "yikes!" type stuff. But then, after reading the article, and Catholicity and Teal's posts, yeah, it makes sense that if you're in a mosque you're probably going to be oriented towards Mecca. So its not like he looked for the direction of Mecca and intentionally turned that way in a ritualistic sense. That puts a bit of a different spin on things as far I'm concerned.

I think anyone who infers that the pope is specifically affirming Islam rather than Christianity or that he is promoting submission to Islam is probably mistaken.

[Adrift]

How does it make a difference? Are you suggesting that the Pope had no idea that he would be praying facing Mecca? If not, then he would be purposefully praying in that direction.

Well, as I said, it makes a difference because its not like he looked for Mecca and then ritually turned in that direction. You'd have to go out of your way to turn a different direction NOT to pray in the direction of Mecca in a mosque, and that'd be a little weird. And no, for the record, I'm not suggesting the Pope had no idea mosques face Mecca, its just something I, myself, momentarily forgot to consider after reading your headline. After reading Teal's reply, I was like, "oh yeah, duh".