79-year old Pope Benedict XVI, who had just sent the Muslim world up in rage 2 months ago, stood silent in prayers along side Muslim clerics facing Mecca in one of the world's most important mosques, the Blue Mosque in Turkey, in an attempt to reconcile Christians and Muslims.
Pope Benedict is now the second pope to set foot in a mosque following the footsteps of his predecessor Pope John Paul II. All in all, there have only been 2 Popes to do so in 2000 years.
He stood beside Mustafa Cagrici, the chief of religious affairs for Istanbul and prayed together. After exchanging gifts, the Pope said to Mustafa: “With the help of God, we must find the way of peace together, for the good of humanity.”
It is not clear yet as to the reactions from the Muslim world. But in all cases, it can't be viewed as a bad thing. Some people are considering this as an informal apology for the remarks he indirectly made when he associated Islam with violence.
How do you view this visit?
Comments
oh well,this is progress.thats the way the pope should be.he should be loved by all people,christian or not, and he should be able to spread peace not the opposite as that happened last time.regardless of our different beliefs and practices we should all be tolerant to each other, especially in the public.lets just hope it stays like this.
I hope he learns from now on not to stab another religion. And he's supposed to be the Father of Christianity. If he thinks this way about Islam, I wonder how ordinary Christians do...
im a christian orthodox and ive never thought i could hate the pope this much.i love John Paul but this guy...this guy is a guy who sucks up to zionist a*s*s. how much longer can christian radicles and extremists degrade us?