Sunday: Turkish protests at Pope's visit:
The Pope sparked outrage across the Muslim world in September, when he quoted a 14th-Century Christian emperor who criticised the Prophet Muhammad.Monday: Pope on delicate Turkish mission:
A lecture on "Faith and Reason" he gave in September during his last foreign visit - to his native Germany - caused a political furore and widespread offence in the Islamic world. Benedict quoted a Byzantine emperor, who said that Islam was violent and irrational. Not true, replied his critics, demanding an apology.
Tuesday: Preaching to the unconverted:
There is still widespread anger in Turkey at the Pope's comments in September, when he linked Islam to violence.Also: Pope calls for religious exchange:
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.Not to mention: Pope's trip covers sensitive ground.
The Pope drew condemnation from across the Muslim world in September when he quoted the words of a Byzantine emperor who fought the Ottoman Turks and linked Islam to violence.
Wednesday: Christian divisions cloud Pope's talks
The Pope's visit to overwhelmingly Muslim Turkey has already provoked controversy - with some nationalist and Islamist groups insisting he is not welcome.
Today: Pope makes turkish mosque visit:
The visit by Pope Benedict was seen as an attempt to repair 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.
And may I just add that for all their concern that the Pope tread vewy, vewy, carefuwy, the Beeb is likely to stir Turkish ire itself with this kind of headline: see the Pope's visit to Mosque in Hagia Sophia (link will change soon, but it's the audio/video clip here). If they'd been paying attention, they'd know the Turks are very touchy about calling Hagia Sophia a mosque when Ataturk made it a museum. I wouldn't reimburse those reporters' expense tabs.
