Turkish government invites pope to visit in 2006

Published: 2005-09-15

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The government of Turkey has invited Pope Benedict XVI to visit the country in 2006, apparently ruling out a hoped-for papal visit this fall. Turkey's Foreign Ministry said Sept. 15 that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer was inviting the pope to come to Turkey next year in order to help "strengthen dialogue between civilizations." The Foreign Ministry said Turkey was closely following the new pope's efforts to promote interreligious dialogue and tolerance. It said the government was awaiting a response from the Vatican to its invitation. The Vatican press office had no immediate comment on the Turkish announcement. Only a week earlier, Vatican officials had expressed hope that the pope would be able to travel in late November of this year for a meeting with Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who invited the pope several months ago. Cardinal Walter Kasper, who coordinates ecumenical dialogue at the Vatican, said Sept. 8 that the pope had welcomed the Orthodox leader's invitation and hoped to make the trip Nov. 30, the feast of St. Andrew.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .