Papal spokesman says alleged al-Qaida threat causes 'no worry'

Published: 2006-11-29

ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNS) -- Accusations about Pope Benedict XVI's trip to Turkey and a vague threat posted on the Internet by a group claiming to be part of the al-Qaida terrorist network have not led to alarm, the Vatican spokesman said. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, traveling with the pope Nov. 29, told reporters: "There is no worry on the part of the pope (or) of his entourage." According to the British news agency Reuters, the Islamic State in Iraq, a group led by al-Qaida, accused the pope of going to Turkey in an attempt to undermine the Islamic faith of Turkey's majority. "We have a date with victory and martyrdom and an (Islamic) state that rules under the commands of God the almighty, and then we shall break the cross and spill the wine," the group's statement said. Father Lombardi said the statement simply demonstrated the importance of joint efforts to stop violence.

Copyright (c) 2006 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .