He didn't go to Turkey to Build Bridges with Islam: We went for Christianity

[AlamoDemoc]

POPE IN TURKEY: "GREAT RESPECT" FOR PATRIARCH BARTOLOMEO I
(AGI) - Ankara, Nov. 28 - During his flight for Turkey, Benedetto XVI wanted to express "great respect" for the Orthodox Patriarch who will welcome his in Instanbul. "Numbers and quantity do not count. It is the symbolic, historical and spiritual weight that counts," stated the Pope and reminded that Bartolomeo I is the heir of an important tradition. He said, "We know that Constantinople, like a second Rome, has always been the reference point of the Orthodoxy, and it gave us the great Orthodox Byzantine culture and it always remains a point of reference for the whole Orthodox world and also for all of Christianity." Therefore, "even if the patriarch does not have a jurisdiction like the Pope, he is still gives a sense of direction for the Orthodox world." And the meeting "between the two sister churches of Rome and Constantinople" is thus a very important moment in the search for Christian unity." The Pontiff is not just coming for a simple courtesy visit but also to discuss with the Greek-Orthodox Patriarch Bartolomeo I about the large problems of humanity such as starvation and world poverty," explained the secretary of the Papal Council, monsignor Brian Farrel, to journalists for the meeting of the Christians. "The presence of Benedetto XGI in Turkey," underlined the archbishop Demetrio d'America, who held a press conference in the press room of Istanbul, "comes during a unique and difficult historical time. After the end of the large totalitarian regimes and especially after September 11th and the start of global terror, the Pope's presence here is the starting sign of a new dialogue for Peace in the world." (AGI) -
281449 NOV 06
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http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200611281449-1147-RT1-CRO-0-NF51&page=0&id=agionline-eng.arab

[AlamoDemoc]

1. The pope also owed apology to Turkey....

the pope fanned the flames by recently saying Turkey's Muslim religion meant it did not belong in the EU.

On Wednesday Nov. 29, the European commission,and the EU executive body rejected Turkey's suggestion that all membership candidates in the 25 nation bloc must conform to its rule.

Turkey is being held hostage by the Greek Cypriot government.

"Its Turkey not EU that should adjust to EU" said EU diplomat.

Some in Turkey press are calling EU as "Christian Europe"... exclusive.

[Igel]

2. That's why the trip was planned.

And it was his focus after all the falderol over the remarks he made last summer was concluded: Property rights for Christians, the ability to train clergy in Turkey, to have Christians form organizations that are recognized as having rights comparable to Muslim organizations, to have churches built where there are Christian communities ... Part of his push for 'reciprocality'.

As one human rights report said in 2004, at least the numbers of circumcisions forced upon Christian conscripts by Muslim conscripts has been much reduced.

[Swede]

3. Gee,I wonder why he met all those Muslims?

I wonder why he prayed in a Mosque?