[Cronos]

You’re wrong. He’s not a Muslim, he’s a Christian, the head of most Christians, so his praying in a mosque, while not conforming to traditional Islamic methods, would no doubt have been seen as a recognition of Allah

Ok, as I said, I've lived in Muslim lands (Bahrain) and what I said is what they would think -- a visit by the Pope without him bowing down is NOT praying to A llah but rather a defiance of A llah and the radicals will condemn inviting the Pope to a mosque.

[americanophile]

I think you're being way too technical about prayer, and dismissive of the obvious symbolism. It isn't necessary for him to have prostrated himself. Indeed, in some Islamic prayers, such as the Dhuhr, standing is obligatory. In any event, the Pope in fact faced Mecca and assumed a similar posture to the imam, who was in fact praying to Allah.