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Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Nov 30 2006
Turkey: Pope visits St. Sophia, prays at Sultanahmet Mosque, Armenian
church
Istanbul, 30 November: Pope Benedict XVI, who is currently in Turkey
upon invitation of Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, visited
Ayasofya Museum (Hagia Sophia) in Istanbul today.
Dr Haluk Dursun, the Curator of Ayasofya Museum, briefed the Pontiff
on Ayasofya, the remains of the Second Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia)
Church, and the artifacts dating back to the Ottoman era.
Dursun also informed Pope Benedict XVI about the architectural
features and history of the museum.
At the museum, Pope Benedict XVI chatted with Lokman Ayva, an MP from
the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), who gave the Pontiff
a letter about the problems of the disabled.
The pope told Ayva, "God wants all of us to be brothers, and help
each other. We are praying for them."
Signing the Museum Protocol Register, Pope Benedict XVI wrote, "we
find monotheism within differences. God should illuminate us and help
us find the path of love and peace."
Pope Benedict XVI later visited Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque).
During the visit, Istanbul Mufti Mustafa Cagrici said that this visit
has opened a significant door, and there should be further
initiatives.
"The messages you gave when you arrived in Turkey, your remarks
appreciating Turkish society, and your messages that Islam is a
religion of peace and based on reason and knowledge have been
welcomed by our people," Cagrici noted.
"As religious personalities, we will do everything in our power to
contribute to world peace. We have been appreciating your ideas and
decisive position on agonies, pains and ethical crises in the world,"
he stated.
Cagrici said, "we hope and we are sure that these positive steps will
continue. We will try to fulfil our responsibilities to ensure world
peace, and happiness of the mankind."
"Your visit will give a new dimension to relations among religions,"
he added.
Then, Cagrici briefed the pope on the history of the mosque.
Pope Benedict XVI also visited Sourp Asdvadzadzin (Virgin Mary)
Church in Kumkapi, and was welcomed by Mesrob II, the Patriarch of
Armenians in Turkey.
Pope Benedict XVI conducted a religious ceremony at the Sourp
Asdvadzadzin (Virgin Mary) Church in Istanbul.
The ceremony lasted about half an hour, and was attended by about 600
people.
After the ceremony, Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Mesrob II had a
tete-a-tete meeting.
Nov 30 2006
Turkey: Pope visits St. Sophia, prays at Sultanahmet Mosque, Armenian
church
Istanbul, 30 November: Pope Benedict XVI, who is currently in Turkey
upon invitation of Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, visited
Ayasofya Museum (Hagia Sophia) in Istanbul today.
Dr Haluk Dursun, the Curator of Ayasofya Museum, briefed the Pontiff
on Ayasofya, the remains of the Second Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia)
Church, and the artifacts dating back to the Ottoman era.
Dursun also informed Pope Benedict XVI about the architectural
features and history of the museum.
At the museum, Pope Benedict XVI chatted with Lokman Ayva, an MP from
the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), who gave the Pontiff
a letter about the problems of the disabled.
The pope told Ayva, "God wants all of us to be brothers, and help
each other. We are praying for them."
Signing the Museum Protocol Register, Pope Benedict XVI wrote, "we
find monotheism within differences. God should illuminate us and help
us find the path of love and peace."
Pope Benedict XVI later visited Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque).
During the visit, Istanbul Mufti Mustafa Cagrici said that this visit
has opened a significant door, and there should be further
initiatives.
"The messages you gave when you arrived in Turkey, your remarks
appreciating Turkish society, and your messages that Islam is a
religion of peace and based on reason and knowledge have been
welcomed by our people," Cagrici noted.
"As religious personalities, we will do everything in our power to
contribute to world peace. We have been appreciating your ideas and
decisive position on agonies, pains and ethical crises in the world,"
he stated.
Cagrici said, "we hope and we are sure that these positive steps will
continue. We will try to fulfil our responsibilities to ensure world
peace, and happiness of the mankind."
"Your visit will give a new dimension to relations among religions,"
he added.
Then, Cagrici briefed the pope on the history of the mosque.
Pope Benedict XVI also visited Sourp Asdvadzadzin (Virgin Mary)
Church in Kumkapi, and was welcomed by Mesrob II, the Patriarch of
Armenians in Turkey.
Pope Benedict XVI conducted a religious ceremony at the Sourp
Asdvadzadzin (Virgin Mary) Church in Istanbul.
The ceremony lasted about half an hour, and was attended by about 600
people.
After the ceremony, Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Mesrob II had a
tete-a-tete meeting.