St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Istanbul sits right on İstiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu, the city’s nonstop, chaotic heart. It’s the largest Catholic church in Istanbul, and stepping inside is like walking into a different world—soaring neo-Gothic arches, stained glass that glows in the afternoon light, and quiet corners filled with flickering candles. There were many visitors: some making the sign of the cross, giving the universal message that they were Catholic; others uncertain how to act. Many wore hijabs, and Muslim visitors reciprocated the same quiet respect that we Christians show when visiting their mosques. I wandered through the nave, took in the details, and soaked up the calm in the middle of the city’s bustle.

Istanbul, Turkey
October 2025