"My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time."
Posted on 11/30/2006 5:15:20 PM PST by M. Thatcher
AFTER offending the Muslim world by linking their religion with violence, Pope Benedict XVI, in an exceptional gesture, turned towards Mecca in an attitude of Muslim prayer at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul today, Turkish state television showed.
Benedict XVI, who became the second Pope in history - after John Paul II in Damascus in 2001 - to set foot in a Muslim house of worship, made the gesture at the suggestion of Istanbul Mufti Mustafa Cagrici, his guide for the occasion.
The Pope's spokesman, Federico Lombardi, was quick to point out to journalists afterwards that the Pope had not actually prayed but was "in meditation".
After explaining the basics of Muslim prayer to the pontiff during the early part of the tour, Cagrici said: "Let us turn toward the Kiblah" - the direction of Mecca, which all Muslims must face when they perform their five-time-a-day prayers.
The Pope complied.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
This thread is going to be interesting.
you said it
I always turn (the LONG way) to Mecca when I bend over to remove my shoes at airport security.
heads will roll....
For later reading.
BTTT.
Eh, non news really.
I guess it's wise to keep an eye on places where demons impersonate angels.
Mrs VS
The two men, clad in long white robes, stood side by side and immobile for about two minutes, their hands crossed on their stomachs in a classical Muslim prayer attitude known as "the posture of tranquillity". The Pope remained with his eyes closed for about a minute, but did not repeat Cagrici's gesture when the mufti wiped his face with the palms of both hands, signalling the end of the prayer. The Pope then ... exchanged presents with the mufti. "This picture is meant as a message of fraternity - a souvenir of this visit that I will certainly never forget," the pope said, presenting Cagrici with a mosaic representing doves. Benedict XVI received an Ottoman calligraphy that read: "In the name of Allah the merciful" - also in the form of a dove. "A pleasant twist of fate," said the mufti.
This will fan the flames of their confidence.
Ugh.
I don't see anything wrong with this. If a Catholic visits a Protestant church, or vice versa, it's only polite to stand and sit with the congregation. Meantime, you can be saying your own prayers.
Following the host's invitation in this instance is a gesture of politeness, not a gesture of belief.
I pray for Benedict's continued health, strength, and Christian witness.
Here's hoping he was performing a silent exorcism.
He was determining azimuth and range.
"My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time."
We all know who he was praying to.
The Pope can order a large "M" to be painted on all interior church walls that face Mecca and order all congregations to face that direction when they pray.
It is very much so. Bad news at that.
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