In Turkey, pope offers friendship to predominantly Muslim population

Published: 2006-11-28

ANKARA, Turkey (CNS) -- Acknowledging that his four-day trip to Turkey would be largely symbolic, Pope Benedict XVI opened his visit by paying respect to the Turkish state and extending a hand of friendship to its predominantly Muslim population. On the plane from Rome Nov. 28, Pope Benedict told reporters, "We must not exaggerate; one cannot expect great results in just three days. The value (of the trip) I would say is symbolic, the fruit of the encounters themselves, of encounters in friendship and respect." The pope's first formal speech in Turkey came in an address at the government's religious affairs directorate, which controls Turkey's mosques and Muslim schools and implements government policy on religion. Before giving their speeches in the building's auditorium, Pope Benedict and Ali Bardakoglu, the office's director, met for about half an hour with members of the papal entourage and Turkish Muslim officials, including the grand muftis of Ankara and Istanbul.

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