Pope, while in Turkey, visits mosque, faces Mecca and "prays like Muslims"

[WilliamPitt]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2006-12-01T120223Z_01_L28626797_RTRUKOC_0_US-POPE-TURKEY.xml&src=rss&rpc=22

Pope hailed for praying toward Mecca like Muslims
Fri Dec 1, 2006 4:50am ET

By Philip Pullella and Tom Heneghan

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Pope Benedict wound up a fence-mending visit to Turkey on Friday amid praise from the local press for visiting Istanbul's Blue Mosque and praying toward Mecca "like Muslims".

The Pope, who sparked protests across the Muslim world with a speech two months ago seen as criticizing Islam, looked relaxed and pleased as he entered the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit for a mass at the end of the sensitive four-day trip.

His first visit to a mostly Muslim country, held under tight security for fear of protests by nationalists and Islamists, was highlighted by a series of conciliatory gestures culminating in a stop on Thursday afternoon in Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque.

"The Pope's dreaded visit was concluded with a wonderful surprise," wrote daily Aksam on its front page.

"In Sultan Ahmet Mosque, he turned toward Mecca and prayed like Muslims," popular daily Hurriyet said, using the building's official name.

His gestures, including support for Ankara's bid to join the European Union and praise for Islam as a peaceful faith, seem to have persuaded the Turks to move beyond the tension following his speech quoting a Byzantine emperor as calling Islam violent.

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[Hand]

1. Why does "Walk Like an Egyptian" run through my mind?

:rofl:

[H2O Man]

2. Good.

He has an opportunity to improve relations between people. I'm glad to see that he made an effort to show respect for Islamic tradition.

[lazyriver]

3. Bush could learn something from his diplomacy...n/t

[angstlessk]

4. Wait just a dern minute here..I just might go to hell for attending

vacation bible school at a baptist church when age 7...that is what the nuns told me at catholic school. We are not supposed to even ENTER one of those non catholic churches...:grr:

[Kelly Rupert]

5. I'd trust the pope over a nun, personally.

And I welcome his rare display of tact.

[WilliamPitt]

6. The Pope is infallible, remember.

Or something.

This, however, is a good thing.

[greenman3610]

7. Good on him. I hear heads exploding.