In the pages of the papers

The Pope’s visit to Turkey is given front-page coverage in the German press. A comment in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (29/11) reads: “ Pope Benedict XVI regards his visit to Turkey as a pastoral visit, but his first day was distinguished by politics. Turkish premier Erdogan, who at first had made it known that neither he nor his Foreign Minister Gül would receive the Pope, appeared at Ankara Airport before his departure for the NATO summit to greet his guest in person on his arrival from Rome. Was he convinced by something more amiable than ‘reason of state’ or was this meeting planned right from the start? From a strategic point of view, this playing with the Pope is not the action of a statesman” . Writing in Die Welt , Boris Kalnoky comments: “ The highest Catholic authority raises many hopes in Turkey. The Islamists thunder against Benedict with the aim of winning votes. Even premier Erdogan has good reasons to be enthusiastic about his guest… Against this background, the rest of the papal visit becomes incidental in the Turkish media: the meeting with Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I, the rapprochement between Western and Eastern Church, the complaints about the situation of Christians in Turkey. The Pope as ‘proponent’ of Turkey’s entry into the EU, just at the moment when the EU has decided to suspend at least part of the negotiation procedure, would really be an unexpected boost for Erdogan”. The Süddeutsche Zeitung comments: “ Europe is worth a trip to the airport, he must have said to himself… Erdogan, when he took the matter in hand and suddenly found a slot in his busy agenda to dedicate to Pope Benedict XVI”. And commenting on the words of the Pope regarding Turkey’s entry into the EU the paper continues: “The Pope did not wish to speak as a politician… He spoke instead of the possibilities of a country placed between Europe and Asia, in which, as in no other country, it will be decided whether cohabitation between Christians and Muslims can work or not“. Lastly, Gerd Höhler , columnist of the Frankfurter Rundschau (28/11), observes: “ Only now is Ankara beginning to understand the global publicity brought by the papal journey, the fact that the visit will place Turkey under the spotlight, with probable implications also for Turkey’s candidature for entry into the EU“. “Today, five years after the attack on the Twin Towers of the WTC in New York, I won’t be far wrong if I say that inter-religious dialogue between Christians and Muslims is in deep crisis. Indeed, it has become – in some sense – a Catholic and Christian dialogue, whereas relations between Western civilization and that of Islam have the form of a permanent confrontation”, writes Father Ryszard Wtorek SJ, a missionary who lives and works in Cairo, in the Polish Jesuit monthly PRZEGLAD POWSZECHNY (11/2006). Also in its December number the same review continues to examine the theme of inter-religious dialogue with Islam, publishing an interview with Samir Khalil Samir SJ, given to the Italian magazine “Aggiornamenti Sociali” and commenting: “Today, between Europe and the Moslem world, tensions can be felt, often exacerbated by those who, either on the one side or the other, seem to support conflict. The signs of the time such as the growing numbers of Moslem faithful who live in Europe, and the challenge of terrorism of Islamic origin, oblige us to find a point of encounter between the various cultures and faiths in order to deepen mutual understanding between them“. Commenting on the Pope’s visit to Turkey, Artur Stopka , on the website www.Wiara pl , affirms that the journey is “ the shared success of Benedict XVI and Turkey”. “The pilgrimage of Benedict XVI in Turkey – he stresses – has right from the start been a proof that the successor of John Paul II is a man of real dialogue, i.e. a dialogue in which both partners consider themselves equal and have equal rights” . The French papers too are dedicating extensive coverage to the Pope’s visit. “ The Holy Father re-affirms with force and clarity the principles of Vatican II. It is what I hoped, especially after our meeting on 11 November” observes the Algerian Islamologist Mustapha Cherif, interviewed by the Catholic daily LA CROIX (29/11). Cherif, expert in interfaith dialogue, was received in audience, at his own request, by Benedict XVI on 11 November and expresses satisfaction for the appeals made by the Pope, in Turkey, “ to Vatican Council II, which inaugurated the policy of esteem, brotherhood and dialogue, sign of a clarity with ambiguity”. In Cherif’s view, “ the key point of the speeches of Benedict XVI“ is the affirmation that “ genuine peace needs justice. The Pope – explains Cherif – has denounced, as we hoped, political disorders and economic imbalances, emphasizing the need to respect international decisions and establish an authentic dialogue, at all levels”. The Pope, in his view, “ has not only expressed great esteem for Muslims, but has also clearly expressed his own desire for a dialogue in mutual respect, as well as the importance of working together” towards “ a future of coexistence founded on the willingness to join together in tackling common challenges such as injustice, the sidelining of religion, secularism and the law of the strongest”. “Papal diplomacy” is the title of the editorial in the daily LE MONDE (30/11). “ Just before touching down at Ankara, on Tuesday 28 November, Benedict XVI had told journalists that his journey to Turkey would not be political. And it certainly hasn’t been, right from the first day” says the editorial. Nonetheless “the day that the Pope spent in Ankara usefully renewed the debate on Turkey’s role in Europe. In the tense climate of this visit – points out the author of the piece – each word of Benedict XVI was carefully weighed in the balance, each gesture pondered”, and if the Pontiff speaks of Turkey as “bridge between West and East” and “ hinge between Europe and Asia”, “ what Turkey and what Europe is he speaking about?” asks Le Monde, pointing out that “ on the question of identity the Pope is stubborn. He respects the secular regime in Turkey, he pays homage to the mausoleum of Kemal Atatürk” , but “ he distinguishes ‘laicity’ from ‘laicism’“. “ In a secular country, in which 99% of the population is Moslem and where freedom of worship is recognized but where Christian minorities are demanding greater liberty“, he appeals for “ genuine religious freedom institutionally guaranteed and effectively respected. It’s a way – which Ankara won’t like – of insisting that the so-called Copenhagen criteria of accession comprise respect for the religious minorities, and that, also on this terrain, Turkey’s performance is awaited and will be judged“ . The papal visit is also given extensive coverage on the front pages of the Turkish press of 29/11. While CUMHURIYET and THE NEW ANATOLIAN comprehensively report the first day of the apostolic journey, with particular emphasis on the Pope’s meeting with Premier Erdogan, President Sezer and the head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, Alì Bardakoglu, HURRIYET points out the difference of view between the heads of the two main opposition parties, the CHP, which calls “ the government’s choice of the period for this visit inept”, and Anavatan which “welcomes the Pope” and criticises Erdogan and his way of managing the journey, which will end with “the meeting with the Greek Patriarchate at the Fanar”. The editorialist of Hurriyet, Oktay Eksi, commenting on Benedit XVI’s visit, writes: “the Pope is wise enough not to expect flowers and embraces from the Turkish people. He has shown himself educated and gentle, addressing fine words to the nation and its people. We may remember his former words against Turkey’s membership of the EU. That’s why we believe that those he pronounced yesterday – saying that Turkey has a place in Europe – were not sincere. Everyone knows – continues Eksi – that Benedict XVI attaches more importance to his meeting with Barthomew I, which has the purpose of healing the divergences between Catholic and Orthodox Church, rather than those between Christianity and Islam”. “The conciliatory tone of Pope Benedict during his visit” and “what seems to be his new support for Ankara’s accession to the European Union, has given a new impulse to his image in this great country with an Islamic majority” writes the Turkish press agency www.turkishdailynews.com.tr (30/11), which underlines the importance of the “special prayer for peace between peoples” pronounced by the Pope at Ephesus on the previous day. At the same time, the agency reports that “ al-Qaida has condemned the Pope’s visit, calling it part of a crusade against Islam aimed at dragging Turkey outside the Muslim world”.“ The Pope flies into the Turkish maelstrom”, “ The Pope on a razor’s edge for his riskiest visit”, “Benedict in the lion’s den”, thus THE TIMES, GUARDIAN , INDEPENDENT and TELEGRAPH , the four most important broadsheets in the United Kingdom, announced the papal visit on the eve of Benedict XVI’s departure for Turkey. A journey that the British press has documented in all its stages: “ The Pope gives his blessing to the Turkish campaign to join the European Union”, “The Pope tends his little flock”, “ The Pope survives his most dangerous day”. The British ‘quality’ papers have also emphasized the delicacy of a visit that coincides with the debate on Turkish entry into the EU and the Pope’s efforts not to offend Muslims: “ The Pope refuses to apologise, but is trying to build bridges during his first visit to a Muslim country”, headlines the GUARDIAN on 29 November. In Italy the following headlines were carried by the main national dailies on 30/11 on the second day of the apostolic journey: “ Al Qaeda threatens the Pope in Turkey” ( CORRIERE DELLA SERA ) “Al Qaeda threatens the Pope” ( REPUBBLICA ), “ Europe freezes [negotiations with] Turkey” ( STAMPA ), “The EU puts Turkey on hold. The Pope threatened by Al-Qaeda” ( SOLE 24 ORE ), “Europe keeps Turkey outside the door” ( GIORNALE ), “The Pope: peace in the Holy Land. Al Qaeda attacks him” ( MESSAGGERO ), “ Enlargement, the EU freezes talks with Ankara during Ratzinger’s visit” ( UNITA’ ), “Benedict flies to Bartholomew. Brussels puts Ankara in cold storage” ( MANIFESTO ), “ The Pope embraces his little flock” ( AVVENIRE ). Writing in the Catholic daily Avvenire, Monsignor Gianfranco Ravasi signs an editorial “ Serenity shines on the horizon“. “ The voice of Benedict XVI – notes Ravasi – has become passionate here [in Ephesus] and tries to reach even Jerusalem and all the confines of the earth, starting out just here from Anatolia ‘natural bridge between the continents'”. “ A serenity – concludes the editorial – that shines not only in the sky of Ephesus but also on the horizon of dialogue between faith and culture, the ultimate goal of this papal itinerary“.