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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Pope Benedict XVI, Mending Fences in Turkey

In September, Pope Benedict XVI made a controversial speech quoting a Byzantine emperor who attacked Islam as a violent religion. Before he was Pope , he said Turkey's Muslim character should keep it out of the European Union. But he arrived in Ankara today with a message of "brotherhood," calling Turkey "a bridge between the religions."

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

In September, Pope Benedict XVI made a controversial speech quoting a Byzantine emperor who attacked Islam as a violent religion. Before he was Pope, he said Turkey's Muslim character should keep it out of the European Union. But he arrived in Ankara today with a message of "brotherhood," calling Turkey "a bridge between the religions." Despite earlier word that he would not have time, Prime Minister Erdogan met with the Pope for 20 minutes before leaving for the NATO Summit in Latvia. Erdogan told reporters the Pope now supports Turkey's admission into the European Union. Will the people of Turkey accept the Pope's call for a "dialogue" between the religions? Will his message of reconciliation help resolve growing tensions between Christianity and Islam?

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

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    Christian Bordal

    Managing Producer, Greater LA

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    Karen Radziner

    Managing Producer, To the Point & Which Way LA?

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    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

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    Hugh Pope

    International Crisis Group

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    Ilter Turan

    Bilgi University

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    David van Biema

    Senior religion writer for Time magazine

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