Pope Honors Turkey's Christian Legacy

(AP)  Pope Benedict XVI began his pilgrimage among Turkey's tiny Christian communities Wednesday by paying homage to an Italian priest slain during Islamic protests and expressing sympathy for the pressures facing religious minorities in the Muslim world.

The messages — made at one of the holiest Christian sites in Turkey — could set the tone for the remainder of Benedict's first papal trip to a Muslim nation as he tries to strengthen bonds with the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians.

The pope is expected to sharpen his calls for what the Vatican calls "reciprocity" — that Muslim demands for greater respect in the West must be matched by increased tolerance and freedom for Christians in Islamic nations.

But too much pressure by the Roman Catholic pontiff could risk new friction with Muslims after broad gestures of goodwill in the opening hours of the trip Tuesday that sought to ease simmering Muslim anger over the pope's remarks on violence and the Prophet Muhammad.

A statement claiming to be from al Qaeda in Iraq denounced the pope's visit as part of a "crusader campaign" against Islam and an attempt to "extinguish the burning ember of Islam" in Turkey. Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said the declaration — posted on several Islamic militant Web sites — shows the need for faiths to fight "violence in the name of God."

He said "neither the pope nor his entourage are worried."

The pope's deepening ties with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I — called the "first among equals" of the Orthodox leaders — also is watched with suspicion in Turkey as a possible challenge to state-imposed limits on Christian minorities and others. Benedict has declared a "fundamental" commitment to try to heal rifts between the two ancient branches of Christianity, which split nearly 1,000 years ago over disputes including papal authority.

At Bartholemew's walled compound in Istanbul, the pope stood amid black-robbed Orthodox clerics and urged both sides "to work for full unity of Catholics and Orthodox."

The pope began the day at the ruins of a small stone home at the end of a dirt road near the Aegean Sea — the site where the Virgin Mary is thought to have spent her last years.

At an outdoor Mass attended by 250 invited guests, the pope noted the challenges facing the "little flock" of Christians in Turkey.

"I have wanted to convey my personal love and spiritual closeness, together with that of the universal church, to the Christian community here in Turkey, a small minority which faces many challenges and difficulties daily," the pope said.

At times, he smiled and showed flashes of the pastoral flair of his predecessor, John Paul II, in one of the most intimate papal gatherings since John Paul's trip to remote Mount Sinai during a trip to Egypt in 2000.

Benedict went on to honor the memory of a Catholic priest who was slain in Turkey amid Muslim anger over the publication in European newspapers of caricatures of Muhammad.

"Let us sing joyfully, even when we're tested by difficulties and dangers as we have learned from the fine witness given by the Rev. Andrea Santoro, whom I am pleased to recall in this celebration," said Benedict, who later walked amid the crowd as they reached to touch his gold-and-white robes and cried "Viva il Papa" and "Benedetto," his name in Italian.

In February, a Turkish teenager shot the Italian priest as he knelt in prayer in his church in the Black Sea port of Trabzon. The attack was believed to have been linked to outrage over the cartoons. Two other Catholic priests were attacked this year in Turkey, where Christians have often complained of discrimination and persecution.

On Tuesday, the pope urged religious leaders of all faiths to "utterly refuse" to support any form of violence in the name of faith. He also said religious freedom was an essential element of democratic values.

He sought a careful balance as he held out a hand of friendship and brotherhood to Muslims, and expressed support for measures that Turkey has taken in its campaign to join the European Union.

But winning over Turkish sentiments may be easy compared with the complexities ahead.

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[bushrocks1]

Would I send my son to this war? You might ask would I send him to World War II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your son to fight in them. But that question is misdirected in a very important way: I can't command my son to go to war. He has to make that choice. So the better question would be: would I volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. I'm not equivocating, only addressing that it is a hypothetical. To a hypothetical, I can answer, sure I'd fight. But I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Jacobite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed and maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country that can't find those men is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is no failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish democracy in the Middle East is a bold, brilliant, noble effort, facing a high chance of failure. That's why I greatly respect and admire those who have made the attempt--the Bush administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons outside their control or fault: traitors on the home front being a big one. Now those traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?...I'm waiting.

[grazinggoat]

Here again bushducks1
Would I send my wife to this war? You might ask would I send her to WW-II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your wife to fight in them. But that question is directed in a very important way: I cannot command my wife, she does me. I have no choice. So the better question would be: would I, BushDucks21, volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer BushDucks21 to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. To a hypothetical question, I can answer, NO. And I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Hamburgerbite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed and maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country that can't find those women is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is a failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish theocracy in the Middle East is a poor, ailing, dispecable effort, for sure a failure. That's why I greatly disrespect and shame those who have made the attempt--the Walkig-Liar administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons within their control or fault: traitors on the home front being a big one. Now we traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?...I'm waiting, and for longtime.
bushducks1

[pseudotriton]

Apparently CBS would not let me type the word "gay" in my last comment (the ***'s). So to paraphrase, "homosexuals", they are also being oppresed by Chritianity.

[halozcel]

dear schi1911,you are right.First and Second World WArs,Hundred years wars,thirty years wars,South America and fight for one word.These were fairy tales.I admire your historical knowledge.

[pseudotriton]

If the fairy tales of Christianity have any truth in them, then Christianity is the most oppresive regime of all. If you don't believe in its God, you will be condemed to hell and burnt in a lake of fire for eternity. Tell me that's not the most violent belief on earth. Christianity always wants to portray itself as the victim, and only "responding" to others' aggression. In reality, it preaches hatred against all outsiders, including non-believers, ***, etc.

[schi1911]

either there's a serious lack of historical knowledge by some posters here or they are deliberately spouting nonsense. Christianity did not have it's roots in violence and bloodshed, unlike Islam which did. the crusades were a response to muslim aggression. the Salem witch trials were nothing in comparison to daily occurences in muslim countries to this day. regardless of it's stated secularity, all religions except Islam are repressed in Turkey.

[charlaparks]

I am amazed at the poor reporting job that CBS news is doing. How unprofessional! There were only 250 invited guests due to security! Showing your bias again guys.

[grumpas]

It's also because they are a Muslim country! We are not high on any Muslim country's list these days! We haven't done much to earn these people's respect! So, why should they give us or the Pope any large amount? All Christian's do is spout endless streams of nonsense about deploring violence while they practice it daily. I am like newster1 why anyone in their right mind would want to be a Christian leaves one to wonder.

[nothappyatall]

Of course there's a low turnout, when Christianity has it's roots in the worst violence and bloodshed imaginable during the reformation, crusades and Salem Witch trials, the real question is why anyone in their right mind would willingly be associated with this is beyond any logic.
They should have kicked this pope's arse out.