Pope leaves Turkey after momentous visit ( wins praise in Turkey for gestures in mosque)

AFP ^ | December 1, 2006 | Gina Doggett

[Psalm 73]

"The Holy Father was not showing reverence for Islam."

OK fine - it's really not worth the time to discuss at length.
I just thought it was inapropriate, but I guess you're right - it was no big deal, not for me, anyhow.
Good night NYer, it's 12:30 AM Okinawa time - I gotta get horizontal.

[spokeshave]

Gesture eh....the single digit salute....

[spokeshave]

Gesture eh....the single digit salute....

[karnage]

"... stunning conciliatory gesture... even more meaningful than an apology..."

I hate the media. I don't blame the Turks for spinning away; that's part of the PR war. I just hate the media lickspittles, eager to praise the religionists who want to behead them, and condemn the ones who want only to love them.

[ELS]

You have to admit, this is an amusing picture...

Pope Benedict XVI frees a dove [on] a visit to Istanbul's Holy Spirit Cathedral December 1, 2006. Benedict's tour of Turkey winds up on Friday looking like an across-the-board success for his effort to repair battered relations with Turkey's Muslims. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (TURKEY)

Pope Benedict XVI frees a dove as during a visit to Istanbul's Holy Spirit Cathedral December 1, 2006. Benedict's tour of Turkey winds up on Friday looking like an across-the-board success for his effort to repair battered relations with Turkey's Muslims. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (TURKEY)

[Verginius Rufus]

Jerusalem is almost on a straight line between Constantinople and Mecca...so the pope could have been facing in the direction of the Holy Sepulchre and no one would be able to tell the difference.

[Theoden]

Exactly

[Theoden]

First off, he has a long history of not being very charitable towards Catholics.

Second, he already posted an inflammatory comment.

And three, what I said is true.

Ya get kind of sick of it after a while, and I can prove the point that what goes around comes around. We "turn the other cheek" multiple times each day, and sometimes we wont. Call it a preemptive strike.

[Lou L]

It is still paying deference to a false god, and that's just plain creepy.

Who's to say that he prayed at all? Isn't this action akin to what conservatives have suggested non-believers do during "moments of silence" in public schools? Sit or stand quietly?

I think the Pope showed up how to be respecful of other religions without being necessarily deferential.

[SwinneySwitch]

"Jerusalem is almost on a straight line between Constantinople and Mecca..."

My thought exactly, VR.

[Gene Eric]

>> "It was something beautiful, a gesture on his part," Cagrici told the Turkish daily Sabah.

Perhaps, it was a gesture on His part for those who pray for peace and understanding.

[Gritty]

[bboop]

He should have dropped pork rinds from his sleeves. Or scattered Holy Water, at least.

[Campion]

It is still paying deference to a false god

It was acting in a polite manner in a building to which he was invited as a guest.

And the allegedly "Muslim attitude of prayer" involved standing with his hands clasped over his abdomen. (I've obviously adopted this "Muslim attitude of prayer" many times in my life; I particularly like to adopt it while standing in line at the bank.)

People who criticize the Pope over this either (a) would criticize the Pope for practically anything (hi Gamecock); or (b) have no concept of politeness or diplomacy.

[SuziQ]

But he added two provisos Thursday, saying that respect for religious freedom must be a criterion for entry into the EU and calling on the bloc to ensure that its members respect the rights of their religious minorities.

An interesting twist!

[Ciexyz]

I'm just relieved he's back home safely in the Vatican!

[Revolting cat!]

All this petty scrutinizing is right out of the pages of National Enquirer, Peephole Magazine and the Entertainment Tonight type of idiot box peep shows (and the Michael Richards cellphone peep show, while we're at it.) Let's step back and contemplate a little instead, just like the Holy Father did.

[Psalm 73]

"....(a) would criticize the Pope for practically anything (hi Gamecock); or (b) have no concept of politeness or diplomacy."

Are those my only two choices?
How about another - I'll criticize anyone I want, and too bad if your panties get all bunched up about it.
I make a comment on the behavior of an international figure and you state blankly that I "have no concept of politeness or diplomacy."
Get a grip, pal.

[ELS]

I'm just relieved he's back home safely in the Vatican!

I'll bet he is glad to be back home, too.

[Gamecock]

would criticize the Pope for practically anything

I've said nice things about the Pope before.