Posted on 12/01/2006 7:10:53 AM PST by jan in Colorado
Pope Benedict ended a sensitive, fence-mending visit to Turkey on Friday amid praise for visiting Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque and praying there facing toward Mecca "like Muslims."
The Pope, who sparked protests across the Muslim world with a speech two months ago seen as criticizing Islam, looked relaxed and pleased as he entered the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit for a mass at the end of the four-day trip.
His first visit to a mostly Muslim country, held under tight security for fear of protests by nationalists and Islamists, was highlighted by a series of conciliatory gestures culminating in a stop on Thursday afternoon in Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque.
Istanbul Grand Mufti Mustafa Cagrici, who prayed with him there, said Benedict had faced Mecca and stood like Muslims do when they pray aright. "These were very nice gestures," he told NTV television.
"The Pope's dreaded visit was concluded with a wonderful surprise," wrote daily Aksam on its front page. "In Sultan Ahmet Mosque, he turned toward Mecca and prayed like Muslims," the popular daily Hurriyet said, using the building's official name.
Just before leaving, Benedict said he hoped his visit was seen as "a sign of friendship between religions" that helps bring countries and cultures closer together.
His gestures, including support for Ankara's bid to join the European Union and praise for Islam as a peaceful faith, seem to have persuaded the Turks to move beyond the tension following his speech quoting a Byzantine emperor as calling Islam violent.
But in Islam's Middle Eastern heartland, Arab commentators still call for Benedict to issue a full apology for his speech. Shocked by the protests it triggered, the Pope has said he did not agree with the controversial quote but has not apologized.
Catholic officials also presented the mosque visit as a key moment of reconciliation.
"I would compare the Pope's visit to the mosque to Pope John Paul's gestures at the Western Wall," said veteran Vatican mediator Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, referring to Pope John Paul II's prayers at Jerusalem's Western Wall in 2000.
"Yesterday, Benedict did with the Muslims what John Paul did with the Jews."
TRIP BRINGS OUT THE DIPLOMAT
Benedict told Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler at the city's airport before leaving for Rome that his visit to the Blue Mosque and the nearby Aya Sofya museum, once a Christian church and then a mosque, had "left a lasting impression" on him.
"A part of my heart stays here in Istanbul," he said, describing the city as "profoundly European" and a bridge between Europe and Asia. "I hope (my visit) "has the effect of bringing structures and civilizations progressively closer."
The trip brought out the diplomat in the theologian who was expected to take a tougher stand on Islam than his more outgoing predecessor John Paul.
Benedict did press during the trip for more freedom of religion in Turkey and by extension in other mostly Muslim countries, but not in the confrontational way some Church officials expected after he was elected Pope in April 2005.
About 30,000 of Turkey's 100,000 Christians are Roman Catholic, mostly living in Istanbul and Izmir.
There were only scattered protests against the visit
Remember at one time Christian churches were built to face the east, remembering the life, teachings, passion, death, and resurection of Jesus.
OK, I just looked up 15 old Cleveland Catholic churches built before 1890 (out of about 20 listed on a sacred landmarks page) and maps.google.com'd them. Yes, I am a nutcase. Some were gone and I can't figure out a few from the satellite picture. Here's the tally so far:
West. - 6
North - 3
South - 3
East. - 3
S.W.. - 1.
I know of another I attended that is not on the list but was very old and has been torn down. I put it on the list. It faced West.
Around here, the Pray Facing East tradition in old Catholic churches is certainly is not evident.
His statement could never be considered as "gracious" towards the Pope because it implies the Pope was praying to 'allah', or at least praying as muslims do to please the muslims. Either way, it attempts to make the Pope look weak or submissive, and this Pope is just incredibly strong in the faith and as brave as they make them.
"May" have some liberal leanings? Under Pope JP II there was an endless parade of liberal changes in the Church, changes that in fact made the Church look more Protestant than the Protestant churches. John Paul II's hatred for Catholic traditions and conservatism was an abomination. The man turned the Church into a circus.
Totally true. And the toilet was deliberately and intentionally installed in the only sensible way possible, and we would definately do it that way still. Imagine a narrow bathroom with a door on one narrow side and the backside of toilet facing the other. No thought was given as to if the backside faced Mecca or not.
It was only when the owner saw this that we learned of this Islamic faux pas. Seems to me the Islamic architect and plumbers should have noticed this. Howver, I've noticed several bathrooms in Afghanistan similar to ours where the backside of the toilet faces the long wall. I suppose since Afghans use squatty potties, it's not so much an issue with them, but with sit down toilets it's weird.
It's also clear that anyone who cares that the backside of their toilet faces Mecca is a real idiot.
According to your comments, you did it intentionally because you had to not as an insult to the landlord or his beliefs.
Ergo, you are not an idiot.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.