Ankara, Turkey – Pope Benedict XVI, beginning the most politically precarious journey of his papacy, called Tuesday for an “authentic dialogue between Christians and Muslims” to help stanch terrorism and conflicts around the globe.
The pontiff, trying to assuage the hostility he provoked in September when he quoted a medieval Christian emperor who associated Islam with violence, said he wanted to use his visit to Turkey – his first trip to a Muslim country since becoming pope – “to reiterate my great esteem for Muslims.”
But in an appearance with Benedict, Turkey’s chief Islamic cleric, Ali Bardakoglu, confronted the pontiff’s September remarks head-on.
“We Muslims condemn all types of violence and terror, regardless of whoever commits it against whosoever,” he said. “However, we all regret to observe that during the recent times, Islamophobia has been in escalation, promoting such notions that … Islam … encourages violence.”
Bardakoglu said every Muslim is “deeply touched and offended by such accusations,” which he said “only serve to encourage those who perform wrongdoings on behalf of religion.”
In his address, Benedict said, “The best way forward is via authentic dialogue between Christians and Muslims, based on truth and inspired by a sincere wish to know one another better, respecting differences and recognizing what we have in common.”
Bardakoglu described the papal trip as “a positive step toward cultivating a culture of reconciliation.”
Instead of the crowds of emotional faithful that greet traveling popes on most of their foreign excursions, Benedict was met Tuesday with empty highways lined by soldiers and sharpshooters, and headlines such as the Islamic newspaper Vakit’s “Unwanted Guest.”
