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Turkey Prepares for Pope?s Visit

In what many see as a move by the Vatican City to try and mend the damage caused by a speech made by the Pope and interpreted as being decidedly anti-Islam, Pope Benedict will tour Turkey at the end of November and visit holy sites in the land. As tension between East and West is at an all time high on a global scale, due in part to a controversial speech given by the Pope in Germany several months ago, experts say that the visit may soothe the feelings of so many Muslims around the world who took offence. This is despite the fact that Pope Benedict has made a number of apologies over the months.

Not everybody is happy about the Pope?s visit to the country. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that he will not meet with his holiness, using a NATO summit as an excuse. However, many feel that Erdogan simply wants to avoid a meeting with the Pope until tensions cooled in the region. A group of 50 demonstrators were arrested last week after they protested the Pope?s arrival and upcoming visit to the Hagia Sofia holy site, where the demonstration took place. The protestors belong to a far-right Islamic youth movement.

Turkey is a largely secular country that straddles both European and Middle East civilizations. Conflict between its secular and religious elements has caused political tensions, however the country?s laws strive to separate state and religion as much as possible. The Pope?s visit will take place between November 28 and December 1.