Pope Francis Says He’s 'Very Saddened' Over Hagia Sophia's Conversion to a Mosque

On Sunday, Pope Francis broke his silence regarding the decision by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to convert Hagia Sophia, the foremost cathedral in the Christian world for nearly a thousand years, to a mosque. If you blinked, however, you might have missed it. “I think of Hagia Sophia,” the Pope said, “and I am very saddened.” It was quite clear why he didn’t choose to say more: virtually anything he added would have landed him in troubles that he doesn’t want to have.

The Pope’s tardy statement, such as it is, manifests a studied ambiguity. What exactly is he saddened about? He doesn’t say. Is he saddened because what was the foremost church in the Christian world for nearly a millennium, and the center of Eastern Christianity, has been made a mosque?

Or is he saddened because this act harms the dialogue that he has so ardently pursued with the Islamic world — even at the price of silence over the Muslim persecution of Christians — and demonstrates that his dialogue partners are not remotely as interested in tolerance, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence as he likes to pretend that they are?

Has Pope Francis made this unclear statement because he doesn’t wish to say anything clearly in support of maintaining Hagia Sophia’s status as a museum, for fear of offending those Muslim dialogue partners?

He has certainly worked hard to avoid offending them, and they have let him know they’re grateful. In September 2017, Pope Francis met in the Vatican with Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, the secretary-general of the Muslim World League (MWL), a group that has been linked to the financing of jihad terror. During the meeting, al-Issa thanked the pope for his “fair positions”

Its a very good question... not unsurprisingly though that it will never be answered... as unfortunately this Pope does have a gift for embracing the undefined, the ambiguous. Not a criticism, just noting as all can see that he frequently speaks in a deliberate, uncommitted tone. I feel he must think it has the same contemplative impact, or language, that Christ masterfully communicated (though not always understood) through his metaphorical parables of the Gospels.
Just an observation- but it could explain the Pope's lack of desire to be direct often, to be "elusive", rather than to the point. Maybe it enables a spiritually, "Holiness" for him- which the original Greek definition for Holy meant "separated or different from" this world.
Whatever the intent, its "Dubia-ous" for sure...

I think of all the great minds and philosophers the Papacy has produced. Even in our age, Benedict XVI was as clear a thinker about the trends of our modern age as was JPII. And then I wonder how Francis ever made it to the position. He’s utterly obtuse

Francis was ELECTED to the papacy by his fellow cardinals.
The red hats ELECTED him.

If you are so curious or pessimistic write a letter to your local Catholic bishop and question him about the validity of that election.

And please, don't start with the nonsense about Benedict being FORCED to retire. He had ALREADY announced BEFORE the election that he DIDN'T WANT THE PAPACY. All he wanted to do, he said again and again, was to retire and write books.
That is what he and his brother still do, write books.

And if you think that cardinals can be FORCED to vote for someone, that shows how little you know of the priesthood.

They also have rules and regulations to follow and have several people around them ALL THE TIME reminding them of who, when, where and what they are to do. Their life isn't their own once they become priests. They HAVE many daily prayers they MUST say. It's not an easy or comfortable life.
There were SO MANY priests that all over the world that they needed leaders and guidance so the position of BISHOP was started
There are so many Catholics in the world...1.2 BILLION according to Google that priests are much needed.

Priests lives become more and more restricted and regulated if they move up the ladder to bishop.

That is all there is:
1. priest and
2. bishop.
3. Archbishops are bishops with MUCH larger dioceses.
4. There got to be TOO MANY archbishops so they founded the position of
5. cardinal. They are still basically PRIESTS.
I don't know if there is a limit on the number of cardinals but THEY needed a leader.
6. That leader became the Pope...which comes from the Latin word "father" [Papa].
The pope is the head bishop.
There ain't no more than priests and bishops.

Priests don't get rich, famous or powerful any more. Those days of yore have long gone. They have SOME status but only by people who respect men of the cloth. And no, they aren't perfect. They are just plain ordinary men, educated beyond belief, but dedicated to God in their adult lives.

Nowadays seminaries TEST the men who want to be priests. Police departments do testing for people who want to be police as well. Neither occupation needs a sicko.

We had a exorcism last week! The bishop knew the EVIL that was around. Most interesting. The non-blm groups, agitators really, tore down statues that they didn't approve of. Unfortunate.

Sorry to be so verbose.

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