Pope condemns religious violence

ANKARA – Pope Benedict XVI has urged religious leaders of all faiths to “utterly refuse” to support any form of violence in the name of faith, while Turkey’s top Muslim cleric complained to the pontiff of a growing “Islamophobia” in the world.

Benedict yesterday arrived in Ephesus, where the Virgin Mary is thought to have spent her last years, to hold a Mass at the site, one of the holiest places. As he began his first visit to a Muslim country Tuesday – a trip that drew extraordinary security but few onlookers – Benedict sought a careful balance as he held out a hand of friendship and “brotherhood” to Muslims, hoping to end the outcry from many Muslims over his recent remarks linking Islam to violence.In a gesture welcomed by his hosts as well as the Muslim world-at-large, he expressed support for Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union, moving away from opposition he voiced when he was a cardinal.”Surprise from the pope,” read a headline yesterday in the daily Cumhuriyet newspaper, referring to the pontiff’s support for Turkish measures designed to bring the country closer to Europe.”Call for dialogue from the pope,” declared the daily Milliyet.Hurriyet newspaper said of the trip: “It started well.”The pope also tolddiplomats that leaders of all religions must “utterly refuse to sanction recourse to violence as a legitimate expression of faith.”He avoided mention of any specific religion, even as he decried terrorism and the “disturbing conflicts across the Middle East.”Benedict also said guarantees of religious freedom are essential for a just society, and raised specific issues such as property rights of Turkey’s tiny 32 000-member Catholic community during talks with Turkish officials.Nampa-APAs he began his first visit to a Muslim country Tuesday – a trip that drew extraordinary security but few onlookers – Benedict sought a careful balance as he held out a hand of friendship and “brotherhood” to Muslims, hoping to end the outcry from many Muslims over his recent remarks linking Islam to violence.In a gesture welcomed by his hosts as well as the Muslim world-at-large, he expressed support for Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union, moving away from opposition he voiced when he was a cardinal.”Surprise from the pope,” read a headline yesterday in the daily Cumhuriyet newspaper, referring to the pontiff’s support for Turkish measures designed to bring the country closer to Europe.”Call for dialogue from the pope,” declared the daily Milliyet.Hurriyet newspaper said of the trip: “It started well.”The pope also tolddiplomats that leaders of all religions must “utterly refuse to sanction recourse to violence as a legitimate expression of faith.”He avoided mention of any specific religion, even as he decried terrorism and the “disturbing conflicts across the Middle East.”Benedict also said guarantees of religious freedom are essential for a just society, and raised specific issues such as property rights of Turkey’s tiny 32 000-member Catholic community during talks with Turkish officials.Nampa-AP