The Situation Surrounding Hagia Sophia is Distressing, Says Pope

Pope Francis has stated that the situation surrounding Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is distressing for him. During his traditional Sunday address in St. Peter's Square, he expressed sadness when thinking about the cathedral.

It is worth noting that the Turkish Council of State (the highest administrative court) annulled the 1934 decision to transform Hagia Sophia into a museum on Friday. Following this, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed a decree to convert the cathedral into a mosque.