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Pope makes Turkish mosque visit Pope makes Turkish mosque visit
(about 1 hour later)
Pope Benedict XVI has visited one of Turkey's most famous mosques in what is being seen as an attempt to mend relations with the Muslim community.Pope Benedict XVI has visited one of Turkey's most famous mosques in what is being seen as an attempt to mend relations with the Muslim community.
During his tour of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the pontiff turned towards Mecca in a gesture of Muslim prayer. During his tour of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the pontiff paused in silent prayer alongside senior Muslim clerics.
It marks only the second papal visit in history to a Muslim place of worship.It marks only the second papal visit in history to a Muslim place of worship.
Earlier, the Pope visited the nearby Hagia Sophia Museum - a site heavy with Christian and Muslim symbolism - drawing protests on the street. Earlier, the Pope visited the nearby Hagia Sophia Museum - a site heavy with Christian and Muslim symbolism - drawing around 150 protesters.
The tour of the Blue Mosque, across the square from Hagia Sophia, was a last-minute addition to the schedule - part of efforts by the Pope to mend the damage his comments on Islam in September caused across the Muslim world.
The divisions which exist among Christians are a scandal to the world Pope Benedict XVI
Speaking to an academic audience in Germany, the Pope quoted a Byzantine emperor who characterised Islam as a violent religion.
While the Pope insisted the remarks did not reflect his own views, the speech was widely reported and caused anger across the Islamic world.
Street protests
The Pope spent half an hour in Hagia Sophia, a domed complex that was once a Christian centre before becoming a mosque and eventually, a museum.The Pope spent half an hour in Hagia Sophia, a domed complex that was once a Christian centre before becoming a mosque and eventually, a museum.
Dozens of people linked to an Islamist-nationalist party demonstrated against the Pope's visit, saying the 79-year-old pontiff's visit was an affront to the secularism enshrined in Turkey's constitution, as well as an attempt to stake a Catholic claim to the Hagia Sophia site. Hundreds of riot police were deployed in Istanbul
They had warned that any hint of a prayer there would be deeply offensive, but the Pope refrained from any religious gesture, such as praying or crossing himself. The protest outside was linked to an Islamist-nationalist party, which said the pontiff's tour was an affront to the secularism enshrined in Turkey's constitution, as well as an attempt to stake a Catholic claim to the site.
The BBC's David Willey in Istanbul says the Pope has been performing a delicate balancing act during his trip between creating better relations with the Orthodox church, while also reaching out to Muslims. The demonstrators warned that any hint of a prayer there would be deeply offensive, but the Pope refrained from any religious gesture, such as praying or crossing himself.
The third day of the Pope's trip to Turkey began with a liturgical celebration by the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. The tour of the Blue Mosque - across the square from Hagia Sophia - was a last-minute addition to the schedule.
name="story"> href="#map" class="bodl">See a map of where Orthodox and Catholic Europe meet Having removed his shoes, the Pope paused for a full two minutes, eyes closed in prayer, standing side-by-side with the Mufti of Istanbul and the Imam of the Blue Mosque.
Pope Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, is the only other pontiff to have visited a mosque, during a trip to Damascus in 2001.
ISTANBUL'S FAMOUS SITES Blue Mosque: built in 1616 on Sultan Ahmet I's ordersJohn Paul II is the only other Pope to have set foot thereHagia Sophia: built in 6th century as an Orthodox churchconverted to a mosque in 1453, a museum since 1935
The visit by Pope Benedict was seen as an attempt to repair the damage his comments on Islam in September caused across the Muslim world.
Speaking to an academic audience in Germany, the Pope quoted a Byzantine emperor who characterised Islam as a violent religion.
While the Pope insisted the remarks did not reflect his personal views, the speech was widely reported and caused anger across the Islamic world.
Since arriving in Turkey on Tuesday, he has offered wide-ranging messages of reconciliation to Muslims, including appeals for support for Turkey's bid to join the EU - which would make it the first member with a majority Muslim population.
'Balancing act'
The BBC's David Willey says the Pope has been performing a delicate balancing act between creating better relations with the Orthodox Church, while also reaching out to Muslims.
Patriarch Bartholomew gave the Pope a special edition of the Bible
The pontiff began Wednesday with a liturgical celebration by the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.
A prime reason for Pope Benedict's visit to Turkey has been to heal the centuries-old rift between the two Churches.A prime reason for Pope Benedict's visit to Turkey has been to heal the centuries-old rift between the two Churches.
HAVE YOUR SAY The Pope's visit has had a positive impact on relations between our two holy religions Emre, Istanbul href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4818&edition=1&ttl=20061128091957" class="">Send us your comments href="/1/hi/talking_point/6189398.stm" class="">Read our online debate Patriarch Bartholomew and the Pope embraced and exchanged the kiss of peace and love during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Patriarch Bartholomew and the Pope embraced during the service.
The kiss of peace is considered a sign of reconciliation and a symbol of fellowship of the faithful.
During the liturgy, the Pope read out a prayer in English, and was presented with a special copy of the Bible by Patriarch Bartholomew.
"The divisions which exist among Christians are a scandal to the world," the Pope said after the meeting."The divisions which exist among Christians are a scandal to the world," the Pope said after the meeting.
HAVE YOUR SAY This visit is an opportunity to show that a Muslim country can be secular, free and democratic Onur, Istanbul Send us your comments Read our online debate
WHERE EAST MEETS WEST Kosovo is an overwhelmingly Muslim province of Serbia, pushing for independenceIn Lviv and other western parts of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church predominates - a church that follows Eastern rites but vows allegiance to RomeRepublika Srpska is the Serb part of BosniaCyprus is divided between the Greek, Orthodox south and the breakaway Turkish, Muslim north
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