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ANKARA; Pope Visits Ayasofya Museum In Istanbul

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  • ANKARA; Pope Visits Ayasofya Museum In Istanbul

    Anatolian Times, Turkey
    Dec 1 2006


    Pope Visits Ayasofya Museum In Istanbul

    ISTANBUL - Pope Benedict XVI, who is actually in Turkey upon
    invitation of Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, visited Ayasofya
    Museum (Hagia Sophia) in Istanbul today.

    Dr. Haluk Dursun, the Curator of Ayasofya Museum, briefed the pontiff
    on Ayasofya, the remains of the Second Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia)
    Church, and the artifacts dating back to the Ottoman era.

    Dursun also informed Pope Benedict XVI about the architectural
    features and history of the museum.

    At the museum, Pope Benedict XVI chatted with Lokman Ayva, a MP from
    the ruling Justice & Development Party (AKP), and gave the pontiff a
    letter about the problems of the disabled.

    The pope told Ayva, "the God wants all of us to be brothers, and help
    each other. We are praying for them."

    Signing the Museum Protocol Register, Pope Benedict XVI wrote, "we
    come across with monotheism within differences. The God should
    illuminate us and help us find the path of love and peace."


    -POPE IN SULTANAHMET MOSQUE-

    Pope Benedict XVI later visited Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque).
    During the visit, Istanbul Mufti Mustafa Cagrici said that this visit
    has opened a significant door, and there should be further
    initiatives.

    "The messages you gave when you arrived in Turkey, your remarks
    appreciating Turkish society, and your messages that Islam is a
    religion of peace and based on reason and knowledge have been
    welcomed by our people," Cagrici noted.

    "As religious personalities, we will do everything in our power to
    contribute to world peace. We have been appreciating your ideas and
    decisive position on agonies, pains and ethic crises in the world,"
    he stated.

    Cagrici said, "we hope and we are sure that these positive steps will
    continue. We will try to fulfil our responsibilities to ensure world
    peace, and happiness of the mankind."

    "Your visit will give a new dimension to relations among religions,"
    he added.

    Then, Cagrici briefed the pope on the history of the mosque.

    Pope Benedict XVI also visited Sourp Asdvadzadzin (Virgin Mary)
    Church in Kumkapi, and was welcomed by Mesrob II, the Patriarch of
    Armenians in Turkey.
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