The Arizona Daily Star

Published: 12.01.2006

Pope bows toward Mecca in Istanbul
Gesture aimed at Muslims around world
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ISTANBUL, Turkey — Pope Benedict XVI looked toward Mecca.
He bowed his head. He prayed.
In that stunning moment in Istanbul's most famous mosque Thursday, the pope stood before the entire Muslim world. It's now their judgment on whether to accept the pontiff's appeals for trust and reconciliation.
The message was designed to resonate loudly nearly three months after the pontiff provoked Islamic fury for remarks on violence and the Prophet Muhammad. And the image is certain to be remembered as one of the historical moments of his papacy.
It was only the second papal visit to a Muslim place of worship. Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, made a brief stop in a mosque in Syria in 2001.
Benedict's steps through a stone archway and into the mosque's carpeted expanse capped a day of deep symbolism and lofty goals. Hours earlier, he stood beside the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians and passionately encouraged steps to end the nearly 1,000-year divide between their churches.
The pope walked to the mosque after touring another majestic tribute to faith: the 1,500-year-old Haghia Sofia and its mix of Quranic calligraphy and Christian mosaics.
At the mosque, the pope removed his shoes and put on white slippers. Then he walked beside Mustafa Cagrici, the head cleric of Istanbul. Facing the holy city of Mecca — in the tradition of Islamic worship — Cagrici said: "Now I'm going to pray." Benedict, too, bowed his head and his lips moved as if reciting words.
The pope has offered wide-ranging messages of reconciliation to Muslims since arriving in Turkey on Tuesday, including appeals for greater understanding and support for Turkey's steps to become the first Muslim nation in the European Union.
But Benedict also has set down his own demands.
The pope repeated calls for greater freedoms for religious minorities — including the tiny Christian community in Turkey — and denounced divisions between Christians as a "scandal."

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