Pope will meet cleric in Turkey visit

[Aiman]

Asalaamu Caleykum Waraxmatullaahi Wabarakaatuh my dear respected brothers and sisters in Islam and hello to non Muslims


Bacadu Salaam,


Pope will meet cleric in Turkey visit

By FRANCES D'EMILIO, Associated Press Writer Sat Nov 11, 9:10 AM ET

VATICAN CITY -
Pope Benedict XVI will meet with an Islamic cleric who was among the first Muslim officials to denounce him for his remarks on Islam and violence, the
Vatican said Saturday in announcing details of the pontiff's upcoming trip to Turkey.
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The Nov. 28-Dec. 1 pilgrimage was born out of Benedict's desire to meet with the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, who has his headquarters in Istanbul, once ancient Constantinople. The pope, who is trying to foster better relations between the Orthodox and Catholics, will meet privately with him on Nov. 29.

Immediately after arriving in Ankara, Turkey's capital, Benedict will visit the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern, secular Turkish state. A week ago, thousands of nationalist Turks demonstrated there, vowing to defend Turkey's secular government against radical Islamic influences while urging their political leaders not to make too many concessions to gain
European Union membership.

Benedict will meet with Turkey's president for religious affairs, Ali Bardakoglu, a top Islamic cleric. Bardakoglu was among the first prominent Muslim figures — and one of the most vehement — to denounce Benedict for the Sept. 12 speech in which Benedict quoted a Byzantine emperor's remarks about Islam and violence. Benedict has since expressed regret that the remarks caused offense and has stressed they did not reflect his personal opinion. He has also expressed esteem for Islam.

Bardakoglu had called the pope's remarks in the Sept. 12 speech "extraordinarily worrying, saddening and unfortunate."

The pontiff will also meet with Turkey's deputy premier. Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has already said he will not be meeting the pope because he will be attending a
NATO summit in Latvia but denied he was trying to avoid an encounter with the pontiff.

Erdogan's Islamic-rooted party faces elections next year.

[Aiman]

""A week ago, thousands of nationalist Turks demonstrated there, vowing to defend Turkey's secular government against radical Islamic influences while urging their political leaders not to make too many concessions to gain
European Union membership.""


Some of those prideless secularist Turks disnohored the Ottoman name onece was full blooded Muslim with Dignity... now pridless with no moral and values. How could they full majority Muslim country let those imoral minority rule the country??