Muslim Cleric Warns Pope Of 'Islamophobia'

Benedict XVI Urges Leaders Of All Religions To Condemn Violence

(CBS/AP)  Pope Benedict XVI urged leaders of all religions Tuesday to "utterly refuse" to support any form of violence in the name of faith, while Turkey's top Muslim cleric complained to the pontiff of growing "Islamophobia" in the world.

As he began his first visit to a Muslim country — a trip that drew extraordinary security but few onlookers — Benedict sought a careful balance as he extended friendship and brotherhood to Muslims, hoping to end the outcry from many Muslims over his remarks linking Islam to violence.

He expressed support for Turkey's efforts to join the European Union.

This is quite a shift — when he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Benedict made remarks to the effect that Muslim Turkey had no place in "Christian" Europe, reports CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey.

But the German-born pope also hammered away at key points of his 18-month papacy, telling diplomats that leaders of all religions must "utterly refuse to sanction recourse to violence as a legitimate expression of faith."

He avoided mention of any specific religion, even as he decried terrorism and the "disturbing conflicts across the Middle East."

Benedict also said guarantees of religious freedom are essential for a just society, and the Vatican said he raised specific issues such as property rights of Turkey's tiny 32,000-member Catholic community during talks with Turkish officials.

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Photos Of Pope's Turkey Visit
Pope Benedict XVI

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His comments could be reinforced during the four-day visit when the pope meets in Istanbul with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians.

The pope is expected to call for greater rights and protections for Christian minorities in the Muslim world, including the small Greek Orthodox community in Turkey.

The 79-year-old pope made reconciliation a priority of his first day, taking on a taxing series of meetings that saw him needing a drink of water after coughing repeatedly while addressing diplomats in the last public appearance in the evening.

Benedict's journey is extraordinarily sensitive, a closely watched pilgrimage full of symbolism that could offer hope of religious reconciliation or deepen what many say is a growing divide between the Christian and Islamic worlds.

Seeking to ease anger over his perceived criticism of Islam, Benedict met with Ali Bardakoglu, who heads religious affairs in Turkey, warmly grasping hands. Benedict sat nearby as the Muslim cleric defended his religion.

"The so-called conviction that the sword is used to expand Islam in the world and growing Islamophobia hurts all Muslims," Bardakoglu said.

The comment appeared to be a reference to Benedict's remarks in a speech in September when he quoted a 14th-century Christian emperor who characterized the Prophet Muhammad's teachings as "evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by thy sword the faith he preached."

The Vatican described the cleric's speech as "positive, respectful and non-polemical," applauding what the church sees as efforts for a true dialogue between faiths.

CBS News Middle East analyst Reza Aslan says the vast majority of Turks have shown little interest in the Pope's visit — and those who do seem far more concerned with his stance on Turkey's bid for membership in the European Union than with his comments about Islam

On Sunday, more than 25,000 Turks showed up to an anti-Vatican protest in Istanbul, asking the pope to stay at home. But on the streets of Ankara, most people went about their usual business; only a tiny protest was held outside the religious affairs office hours before the pope arrived.

"Today we had the sensation he was a welcome guest," said Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi.

"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.

"We know that the scope of this trip is dialogue and brotherhood and the commitment for understanding between cultures ... and for reconciliation," he said.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan — in a last-minute change of plans — welcomed the pope at the foot of the plane and described the visit as "very meaningful." Erdogan's political party has Islamic roots, though the government is secular.

In his first official act, Benedict visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, and wrote a message in a guest book calling Turkey "a meeting point of different religions and cultures and a bridge between Asia and Europe."

Police monitored the highway leading to Ankara from the airport, where Turkish and Vatican flags waved in a light breeze. Snipers climbed atop buildings and hilltops. In wooded areas along the route, soldiers in camouflage fatigues set up observation points and sniffer dogs passed along bridges.

It was his first visit to a Muslim country as pontiff. The original goal of the pope's trip to Turkey was to meet Bartholomew I, leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians. The two major branches of Christianity represented by Bartholomew and Benedict split in 1054 over differences in opinion on the power of the papacy. The two spiritual heads will meet in an attempt to breach the divide and reunite the churches.

Benedict leaves Ankara on Wednesday for Ephesus, where the Virgin Mary is thought to have spent her last years, and will then travel to Istanbul.

A closely watched moment of the trip will come Thursday during Benedict's visit to Haghia Sophia, a 1,500-year-old site that was originally a Byzantine church and then turned into a mosque after the Muslim conquest of Istanbul — then known as Constantinople — in 1453. It is now a museum, and Turks would take offense at any religious gestures by the pontiff, who also plans to visit the nearby Blue Mosque.

In 1967, Pope Paul VI fell to his knees in prayer, touching off protests by Turks claiming he violated the secular nature of the domed complex. In 1979, Pope John Paul II made no overt religious signs during his visit.

[mjv2944]

Islamophonia is completely self-inflicted. But then there have been millions killed in the name of the Lord or Allah or whom ever. Catholic church has a real dark past all its own.

[djk5453]

I would counter to the muslim cleric that maybe the world wouldn't have "Islamophobia" if the actions of Islamic people didn't warrant it.

[nothappyatall]

"all religions based on peace"

Does THIS read like "peace" to anyone here?

DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21
If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately.

DEUTERONOMY 22:22
If a married person has *** with someone else's husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death.

MARK 10:1-12
Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced.

LEVITICUS 18:19
The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman's period. If they disobey, both shall be executed.

MARK 12:18-27
If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir.

[linfinster]

HAHAHAHAHA You're funny Arkarsno .. why can't we just all get along ..??!! PLEEEZE. There are religions out there that kill, there are PEOPLE out there that have NO religion that kill.

1 Thessalonians 3:2-6

[akarsno]

Sad ... we things like that could actually make a difference in this world to a fellow human being!

All I want to say to my fellow human beings is peace be on you and may you find the right way in which you think that is right and righteous!

What ever your religion may be!

[akarsno]

It is human that makes the war cause of our feelings and distortions. So it is up to us to make it right.
I hope one day truly we can come to that and not inflick pain to our human beings and respect one another.
Yes ... basically the human race has forgotten to respect one another in every respect of living.
It is sad ... that we are on this earth for ... I feel nothing good will come out of us if we continue to behave to one another like this.
A kind gesture of a greeting like "hello, good morning and have a nice day" to our fellow neighbors or to a stranger has all been forgotten caue we could not be bothered.

[akarsno]

Life is too short to correct each other whose is better. Take only the good part and not the bad part and I am sure we would not have wars in this world with each other.
If only we can stop condeming each others faults ... and whose to say we are perfect in every one of us.
I truly believe .. we can live in peace and harmony. I know this may seem ver far fetch but leave out the parts where we have to kill others for not believeing in what ever religion we may belong too and the world can and would live in peace.

[akarsno]

Bothe religions have cause so much of destruction and chaos in this world ... all I know is the is a god and someone created this world ... who we do not know.
Each religion would say their own may it be christian, jews, muslims, buddah, what ever religion you may belong to is the right one, but really .. how do we know?
All i know is ... lets try to keep the peace in this world no matter how much we may hate each others religion or find faults with it.

but if you read deepy into the bible you will see that your past sins are forgiven upon death, but then it is all to the person reading it and how your translate its meaning, so with that, lets all just be friends...........

[akarsno]

Religions like Christain or Muslim have made their own laws and are not something which we can follow through as they say it is.
It has given so much doubt about what we are to believe in their writings.
We can only follow the good examples of it and and not read the misconstruded parts which they have included in their teachings to the human population.
Learn only what you think is needed and leave the rest for the senseless minded ones.

[getcentered]

newster1:

I don't disagree with your comment, but I wasn't even trying to go there.

The corporations have definitely exploited the Jesus holiday. Guilt and jealousy between people does exist within our society because of it, BUT I AM GLAD I GET THE DAY OFF. -lol

WE ARE HIGH ON MONEY BUT LOW ON CASH.

[nothappyatall]

"Even our holidays like Christmas; our children connect the giving of presents to the birth of Jesus. At a time when their minds are most susceptible to influence, we tell them, the reason they get what they want is because of Jesus."

They get presents because mom and dad have been brainwashed by the corporate conglomerates out there, Hallmark cards and others into a mindset that you dont CARE about someone unless you give them a GIFT and a CARD, and it HAS to be ON Dec 25th, Dec 26th is hurt feelings and bad news.
Ditto for birthday gifts and cards, it HAS to be on THAT day or people get all upset- that's the brainwashing we have gotten from TV commercials and all the rest, Christmas is about HOW MUCH YOU CAN RACK UP CREDIT CARDS buying junk your receivers usually don't want and often have to return to the store to get WHAT they want- a toaster instead of that alarm clock YOU gave them that 4 other people ALSO gave them.

Now we have people FIGHTING in stores over video games, kids screaming for the latest TOY and all upset if they don't get it. DUMP this idiotic holiday already!!!

[nothappyatall]

"Pope: All Religions Based On Peace"

"And here I thought they were all based on fear and lies."

They ARE, religions tell you to do THIS or do THAT or else burn in he11 forever, that unless you are basically-PERFECT- you are doomed. Ever get a divorce? you sinned and all sins are the same, you burn in he11. Ever steal a piece of gum as a kid? you sinned and stole, you burn in he11, an affair with someone you were NOT married to? same thing- he11 awaits you. The bibull directs you to stone people to DEATH for minor infractions like adultry, cursing one's parents etc- nice quandary- DONT stone someone to death like it orders you to- you DISOBEYED and sinned, but if you do stone someone to death jail or the electric chair awaits your behind- damned if you do and damned if you don't, some religion of peace LOL!!!!!!

An all knowing seeing god has therefore deliberately set all of us up in advance knowing what we would do and fail, thanks, but no thanks, I've seen enough of this krap to know I want NO part of this christian mind rot- take it AWAY with the rest of these "peace" brainwashing fantasy land fairy tales!

[jhindson1]

..but Christians do bother non-believers.

Christians:
- go to other countries and advocate abstinence instead of condoms, thereby dramatically INCREASING deaths due to HIV
- go to other countries to convert others to Christianity IN RETURN FOR assistance.
- change *** education in schools which results in MORE teenage pregnancies instead of fewer.
- thwart stem cell research that will PREVENT deaths because they believe that the 150 cells that would have been thrown out anyway and is less than the 150,000 cells in a fly's brain is somehow a human being.
- believe that if you are not a Christian you will burn in hell and therefore discriminate against non-believers at all times - How many non believers do you know that are voted into office?
- Impose there warped values on everyone else, in government, in institutions and in laws of the nation to regulate what happens in its bedrooms.

When Christians can really mind there own business, then some progress will be made. - Unfortunately, they just cannot help themselves.

Until Christians finally figure out that there is no GOd they need to MYOB.

jane are you on something I said "lord knows he goofed with the Prophet Muhammad's teachings as "evil and inhuman" statement, READ!!!!!!!Goof!

[jhindson1]

Christianity is obsolete. So is Zeus, Apollo and the Sun God.

There is no God and Jesus was not born from a virgin. Virgin was a mistranslation of *Young girl* from the the Hebrew to the Greek. It is as simple as that.

The Bible clearly states that non beleivers should be killed. (Deuteronomy13:7-11)

Christianity is responsible for the Crusades, the Inquisition, burning witches and countless other acts of murder and violence. The Pope should appologize for past deeds starting with the Crusades.

Sorry, but if some miracle happens it is strictly due to the laws of chance. Nothing more and nothing less.

If people want to believe in something fine - keep it to themsleves and their group. It is when these beliefs translate into laws, governments, institutions and notions of conquering or converting others that we get in a whole lot of trouble. Which is where the world is right now.

Christians just cannot reconcile the Bible as the word of God with facts about the age of the earth or the evolution of species or specific Biblical instructions to kill non-believers. As soon as they do they have to admit that the Bible is inconsistent with a merciful and tolerant God.

Their only response is to quote the Bible. Which is simply irrational and proven inaccurate from all that mankind has learned in the last 2,000 years.

[Syndicate]

It is obvious that the Pope knows nothing of Muslim or Christian history. Islam was founded by war mongoring child molesting rapist and we all Know what Christians have done.

[bobgee_1999]

Pope: All Religions Based On Peace

And here I thought they were all based on fear and lies.

for now my bible will be my Chiltons Repair Manual on how to repair my Escalade, at least it easier to read and do not have to translate it

I was once told when I was very young that the Ten Commandments were written by a man or being because they were lessons learned the hard way