Vatican City - Pope Benedict underlined in a message to Turkey on Friday his respect for the Islamic faith, which many Muslims believe he portrayed as violent in a speech in 2006, and called on all religions to denounce violence.
The pontiff, welcoming Turkey's new ambassador to the Vatican and recalling his fence-mending trip there in 2006, hailed Turkey as a "bridge" between East and West but stopped short of backing its aspirations to European Union membership.
"During my memorable journey I showed repeatedly the respect the Catholic Church has for Islam and the esteem in which the Pope and the faithful hold Muslim believers, especially on my visit to Istanbul's Blue Mosque," he said in a speech....
Dr. Alan Cairns | 8/3/2009
