Pope makes further Muslim-Christian gesture
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EFES, Turkey  - Turkey on Wednesday praised the conciliatory tone of Pope Benedict during his visit to the predominantly Muslim country and his apparent new support for Ankara's bid to join the European Union.
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Pope Benedict embarked on Tuesday on a highly sensitive visit to Turkey, saying his four-day trip would be an opportunity for reconciliation and dialogue between Christians and Muslims.
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ISTANBUL, Dec 4 (IPS) - Despite controversy and fears for his safety, the  first visit of Pope Benedict XVI to a Muslim nation ended with a  series of conciliatory gestures toward Islam, and towards Turkey.
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By Stephen BrownVATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict told Muslims on Saturday he was sorry they had found his speech on Islam offensive, expressing his respect for their faith and hoping they would understand the "true ...
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Pope Benedict XVI has stressed Europe's &quot;Christian roots... and values,&quot; two days after backing Muslim majority Turkey's bid for membership in the European Union.
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ROME -- Pope Benedict XVI brought together diplomats from more than 20 Islamic countries yesterday and told them that Christians and Muslims must overcome historical enmities and join to reject all forms of violence and intolerance.
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ISTANBUL -- A poster of a pig with the face of Pope Benedict XVI plastered to its head and a cross painted on its pink belly hinted at the fierce reception the pontiff could face in Turkey tomorrow when he kicks off his first papal trip to a Muslim country.
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Pope Benedict XVI said Tuesday that his visit to Turkey is aimed at promoting dialogue and bridging differences, speaking minutes before departing for his first trip as pontiff to a predominantly Muslim country.
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Pope Benedict's highly sensitive visit to Turkey shifts focus toward Vatican relations with Orthodox Christianity on Thursday after his conciliatory words about Islam soothed tensions with Turkish Muslims.
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Pope Benedict backed Ankara's EU entry bid and said Islam was a religion of peace on Tuesday, according to Turkey's prime minister, in a bid to soothe rows over his views in the mostly Muslim state.
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Pope Benedict meets Muslim   ambassadors and Italian Islamic leaders later on Monday in an   unprecedented move to try to defuse anger over his use of a   medieval text which says their religion was spread by violence.
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Pope John Paul II exhorted Christians on Friday to display signs of their faith more forcefully, contending the practice neither infringes on separation of church and state nor breeds intolerance.
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Pope Benedict XVI says he is sorry about the offence caused by his speech referring to the Muslim faith.
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Pope Benedict visited Istanbul's Blue Mosque on Thursday, only the second Roman Catholic Pontiff to take such a step, and prayed silently in another gesture of reconciliation to the Muslim world.
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Pope Benedict wound up a fence-mending visit to Turkey on Friday amid praise from the local press for visiting Istanbul's Blue Mosque and praying toward Mecca "like Muslims".
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Pope Benedict told Muslims on Saturday he   was sorry they had found his speech on Islam offensive,   expressing his respect for their faith and hoping they would   understand the "true sense" of his words.
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ISTANBUL, Sep 17 (IPS) - In another attempt to mollify the Islamic world  following apologies from the Vatican earlier, Pope Benedict XVI  personally intervened during his Angelus, the traditional Sunday  noon blessing, to reject any anti-Islam sentiment, and appeal for  dialogue.