In a targeted attack, masked assailants opened fire on an Italian church in Istanbul during Sunday mass, resulting in the death of one man. The incident, swiftly condemned by Pope Francis and Turkish officials, took place at the Santa Maria church in the Sariyer district on the European side of Turkey's largest city.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, in a social media post, confirmed that the attack was carried out by two masked men. Initially, Turkish officials believed it was a targeted attack against an individual attending the service rather than against the Catholic church itself. The victim, identified only as C.T., lost his life in the gun attack.

Two suspects were apprehended by Turkish police as they fled the scene, according to Yerlikaya's late-night announcement. The number of casualties remains uncertain, with local officials estimating that around 40 people were present during the mass.

Witnesses described the terrifying moments as the assailants fired their guns. Sariyer district's mayor, Sukru Genc, stated, "After the second shot, the gun didn't work, then they (the attackers) ran. At this moment, everyone lay on the floor. There were around 35 to 40 people inside."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was attending a rally in the province of Eskisehir, expressed his condolences during a phone call with the priest of the Italian church and other local officials. Erdogan's office stated that the necessary steps were being taken to apprehend the perpetrators as quickly as possible.

Pope Francis voiced his support for the Catholic church following the attack during his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also condemned the attack and expressed condolences, while expressing confidence in the Turkish authorities' ability to bring the culprits to justice.

The incident comes just over a week after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with Erdogan in Istanbul. The ruling AKP party spokesman, Omer Celik, confirmed that the assailants specifically targeted a citizen during the mass. Celik emphasized that the security forces were conducting a thorough investigation and stated, "Those who threaten the peace and security of our citizens will never achieve their goals."

Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, made a resolute statement, saying, "We will never allow those who aim at our unity and peace by attacking houses of religion in our city."

This attack follows the detention of 32 suspects by Turkish security forces in December of the previous year. These individuals were believed to have links with the so-called Islamic State (IS) jihadists, who were planning attacks on churches, synagogues, and the Iraqi embassy. IS militants have previously carried out deadly attacks on Turkish soil, including the notorious 2017 nightclub attack in Istanbul which claimed the lives of 39 people.

In a statement, the IS claimed responsibility for the attack, citing a call from its leader to target Jews and Christians worldwide. The terrorist organization's claim underscores the ongoing threat posed by extremist groups and the constant need for vigilance and security measures.