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Pope set to visit Turkish mosque Pope set to visit Turkish mosque
(30 minutes later)
Pope Benedict XVI is due to visit one of Turkey's most famous mosques in what is being seen as an attempt to mend relations with the Muslim community.Pope Benedict XVI is due to visit one of Turkey's most famous mosques in what is being seen as an attempt to mend relations with the Muslim community.
His tour of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul will be only the second papal visit in history to a Muslim place of worship.His tour of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul will be only the second papal visit in history to a Muslim place of worship.
But his prior visit to nearby Haghia Sophia museum is expected to be even more closely watched - a site heavy with Christian and Muslim symbolism.But his prior visit to nearby Haghia Sophia museum is expected to be even more closely watched - a site heavy with Christian and Muslim symbolism.
The Pope's trip has been overshadowed by his recent comments about Islam.The Pope's trip has been overshadowed by his recent comments about Islam.
Prayer watchPrayer watch
The third day of his trip to Turkey began with a mass celebrated by the spiritual head of the Orthodox Church, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.The third day of his trip to Turkey began with a mass celebrated by the spiritual head of the Orthodox Church, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.
A prime reason for his visit to Turkey has been to heal the centuries-old rift between the two Churches.A prime reason for his visit to Turkey has been to heal the centuries-old rift between the two Churches.
See a map of where Orthodox and Catholic Europe meet See a map of where Orthodox and Catholic Europe meet
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says this day's activities are heavy with symbolism.The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says this day's activities are heavy with symbolism.
Nationalist and Islamist groups will be closely watching the Pope's tour of Haghia Sophia - once one of the most sacred sites in Christendom, then converted to an Ottoman mosque and now a museum in a strictly secular state.Nationalist and Islamist groups will be closely watching the Pope's tour of Haghia Sophia - once one of the most sacred sites in Christendom, then converted to an Ottoman mosque and now a museum in a strictly secular state.
They say any hint of a prayer there would be deeply offensive. HAVE YOUR SAY This visit is an opportunity to show that a Muslim country can be secular, free and democratic Onur, Istanbul href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4818&edition=1&ttl=20061128091957" class="">Send us your comments href="/1/hi/talking_point/6189398.stm" class="">Read our online debate They say any hint of a prayer there would be deeply offensive.
The tour of the Blue Mosque - across the square from Haghia Sophia - was a last-minute addition to the schedule and is seen as a major gesture of goodwill to Muslims.The tour of the Blue Mosque - across the square from Haghia Sophia - was a last-minute addition to the schedule and is seen as a major gesture of goodwill to Muslims.
It is part of efforts by Pope Benedict to mend the damage his comments on Islam in September caused across the Muslim world.It is part of efforts by Pope Benedict to mend the damage his comments on Islam in September caused across the Muslim world.
Speaking to an academic audience in Germany, the Pope quoted a Byzantine emperor who characterised Islam as a violent religion.Speaking to an academic audience in Germany, the Pope quoted a Byzantine emperor who characterised Islam as a violent religion.
While the Pope insisted the remarks did not reflect his own views, the speech was widely reported and caused anger across the Islamic world.While the Pope insisted the remarks did not reflect his own views, the speech was widely reported and caused anger across the Islamic world.
WHERE EAST MEETS WEST Kosovo is an overwhelmingly Muslim province of Serbia, pushing for independenceIn Lviv and other western parts of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church predominates - a church that follows Eastern rites but vows allegiance to RomeRepublika Srpska is the Serb part of BosniaCyprus is divided between the Greek, Orthodox south and the breakaway Turkish, Muslim northWHERE EAST MEETS WEST Kosovo is an overwhelmingly Muslim province of Serbia, pushing for independenceIn Lviv and other western parts of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church predominates - a church that follows Eastern rites but vows allegiance to RomeRepublika Srpska is the Serb part of BosniaCyprus is divided between the Greek, Orthodox south and the breakaway Turkish, Muslim north
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