Amid massive protests, Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Turkey for his first visit to a Muslim country as Pope:
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI began his first visit to a Muslim country Tuesday with a message of dialogue and “brotherhood” between Christians and Muslims in an attempt to ease anger over his perceived criticism of Islam.
Two months after the pope touched off fury across the Islamic world with remarks linking violence and Prophet Muhammad, the Turkish prime minister — in a last-minute change of plans — was on hand at the airport in Turkey’s capital to greet the pontiff.
“All feel the same responsibility in this difficult moment in history, let’s work together,” Benedict said during his flight from Rome to Ankara, where more than 3,000 police and sharpshooters joined a security effort that surpassed even the visit of President Bush two years ago.
Whether the Muslim world will reciprocate is an open question.
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November 28th, 2006 at 5:12 pm
Pope J.II forgave M. Adja who tried to even kill him. The Muslims on the other hand want to kill Sulman Rushdie for critics on Islam in his book Satanic Verses & are shouting of harming Pope Benedict even after his apology over his critics on Prophet Mohammad. If the Muslims are true followers of their Prophet who they say of his teachings of forgiveness then they should also forgive these two. By not doing so, either they are bringing shame to their own Prophet or else acknowledge that Pope Benedict & Rushdie are right. Stop your double standards , the rest of the world is smart enough to understand !!