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.