[Rutles4Ever]

Putting his faith front and center.

[exile]

With his impressive Kung Fu skills, the Pope doesn't need a stinking bullet proof vest.

Seriously though, I hope he reconsiders. This is just nuts.

[pax_et_bonum]

Why not wear the vest?

It's just a practical decision about protecting his life, which is valuable to millions of Catholics.

Doesn't the pope-mobile have bulletproof glass?

[Biggirl]

I do believe that the great JPII and as well as the great communicator is praying in the Heavenly Kingdom for both the Pope and President Bush this week.

[Biggirl]

Please God, be with BXVI on this very special and risky trip. Amen

[kidd]

If Mohhamed himself were to go to Turkey, there would be mobs of Muslims that would want to kill him because he gave conflicting accounts about tolerating Jews.

[redgolum]

Say what you want, he has guts.

[Silly]

Reminds me of a joke:

A woman asks her priest to pray for her son, a boxer.

He says, "Sure, lady, but it may help if he can pack a punch!"

[chuckles]

Does Italy have "the bomb"? Course, they would probably say the Swiss were supposed to defend him.

If the worst does happen, I wonder if we could get some help against these murderers? Like South America, Africa, and Europe. Ain't there a few Catholics left in those places? Somebody might even cut Chavez's throat for pulling for the Iranians. The Euro wussies would probably just say, "He asked for it".

[Falconspeed]

Schedule:

Tuesday, Nov. 28
9 a.m. Departure from Rome/Fiumicino to Ankara

TURKEY
Ankara
1 p.m. Arrival at Esemboga International Airport
• Visit to the Atatürk Mausoleum
• Welcome ceremony and courtesy visit to the President of the Republic
• Meeting with the Vice Prime Minister
• Meeting with the President of Religious Affairs (Address of the Holy Father)
• Meeting with the Diplomatic Corps (Address of the Holy Father)

Wednesday, Nov. 29
Ephesus
• Holy Mass (Homily of the Holy Father)
Istanbul
• Moment of prayer at the Patriarchal Church of St. George and private meeting with H.H. Bartholomew I (Greeting of the Holy Father)

Thursday, Nov. 30
• Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of St. George (Address of the Holy Father, and Joint Declaration)
• Visit to the Museum of Saint Sofia
• Visit to the Blue Mosque
• Moment of prayer at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and meeting with H.B. Patriarch Mesrob II (Greeting of the Holy Father)

• Meeting with H.E. the Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan
• Meeting with the Grand Rabbi of Turkey
• Meeting and dinner with the members of the Catholic episcopal conference

Friday, Dec. 1
• Holy Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (Homily of the Holy Father)
• Farewell ceremony at the Airport of Istanbul
• 1:15 p.m. Departure from the Airport of Istanbul to Rome