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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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    Pope Benedict XVI, Mending Fences in Turkey
    1. 1:38Bush Pledges Continued US Presence in Iraq at NATO Summit
    2. 7:43Pope Benedict XVI, Mending Fences in TurkeyYou’re reading this
    3. 41:37Another Voting Fiasco in Florida?
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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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    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Pope Benedict XVI, Mending Fences in Turkey
    1. 1:38Bush Pledges Continued US Presence in Iraq at NATO Summit
    2. 7:43Pope Benedict XVI, Mending Fences in TurkeyYou’re reading this
    3. 41:37Another Voting Fiasco in Florida?
    Back to To the Point