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| Pope makes Turkish mosque visit | Pope makes Turkish mosque visit |
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| 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 paused in silent prayer alongside senior Muslim clerics. | 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 around 150 protesters. | Earlier, the Pope visited the nearby Hagia Sophia Museum - a site heavy with Christian and Muslim symbolism - drawing around 150 protesters. |
| 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. |
| Hundreds of riot police were deployed in Istanbul | Hundreds of riot police were deployed in Istanbul |
| 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 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 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 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 tour of the Blue Mosque - across the square from Hagia Sophia - was a last-minute addition to the schedule. | The tour of the Blue Mosque - across the square from Hagia Sophia - was a last-minute addition to the schedule. |
| 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. | 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. | 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 entered a mosqueHagia 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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' | '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. | 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 and the Pope exchange the kiss of peace | Patriarch Bartholomew and the Pope exchange the kiss of peace |
| The pontiff began Wednesday with a liturgical celebration by the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. | 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. |
| Patriarch Bartholomew and the Pope embraced during the service. | Patriarch Bartholomew and the Pope embraced during the service. |
| "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. |