Vatican cardinal says Benedict is now 'likable' to Turks after pilgrimage

Walter Cardinal Kasper

Function: President of Promoting Christian Unity, Roman Curia

Title: Cardinal Deacon of Ognissanti in Via Appia Nuova

Birthdate: Mar 05, 1933	Country: Germany

Elevated: Feb 21, 2001	More information: www.catholic-hierarchy.org

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Vatican cardinal says Benedict is now 'likable' to Turks after pilgrimage
Dec 03, 2006
Cardinal Walter Kasper, a German prelate who heads the Vatican office for better relations among Christians, told a news conference at the Vatican that the Nov. 28-Dec. 1 pilgrimage went beyond expectations.

(The Associated Press, December 2, 2006) "The figure of the pope has become likable for Turkish Muslims, and this is a very important fact," Kasper said.

The pilgrimage was proof of the pope's willingness to work for "cooperation among civilizations," Kasper said.

For the Holy See, "a clash between civilizations would be a catastrophe for all of humanity, so everything possible must be done to overcome prejudices," the cardinal said.

Separately, Kasper told Vatican Radio that the Vatican wanted to continue the dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox after the Turkish trip. Benedict's main purpose in setting out for Turkey was a meeting with the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, who has his headquarters in Istanbul.

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