Vatican confirms trip to Turkey, despite some Muslims' misgivings

Published: 2006-10-16

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican officially confirmed that Pope Benedict XVI will travel to Turkey at the end of November, despite misgivings among many Muslims over recent papal remarks on Islam. The pope's Nov. 28-Dec. 1 trip, his first to a predominantly Muslim country, will include stops in Ankara, Ephesus and Istanbul, the Vatican said Oct. 16. The pope will travel at the invitation of the Turkish government and the Orthodox Church's Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. In Ankara, the capital, he is expected to meet with political leaders Nov. 28. The following day he is expected to say Mass in Ephesus, an important early center of Christianity in western Turkey. The pope will meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul in the evening of Nov. 29 and participate in an Orthodox liturgy Nov. 30. On Dec. 1, he is expected to celebrate Mass for Catholics in the city before returning to Rome.

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