"Pope Benedict XVI prayed alongside an Islamic cleric in Turkey's most famous mosque Thursday in a dramatic gesture to Muslims after outrage from the pontiffs remarks linking violence and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad" says Associated press.
This mosque was Blue Mosque of Istanbul and today was the hell on Earth. Because of Pope's security, almost all main roads in the historical peninsula are closed by the police and almost 15 million Istanbulians paralyzed. Personally, I walked for 45 minutes to reach the shuttle to my work. It was interesting around with lots of different reactions to the visit: For the city, it was an extraordinary day, like a fest or a war. In the street tram -which we must have stopped 5 stations before the last one- everybody was talking with each other. The people who didn't meet before chatting; a woman with a headscarve said "Well, we should give a lesson to this insolent pope with kindness and sympathy, not with violence. So that he would feel pity. There is no need for such security means." Others, including women without headscarves approved with quite nods. After I hopped off to the station which is the closest one to my destination, streets were full of people and there are no cars around. Some 50 people who were going to a football match are stopped by the police who didn't let them to use the ordinary road. They adapted the newest soccer chant to the current situation in a melodic style and they sang, "Eat my d.ck, Pope!" Then there is a handwritten sign near the bus stop, which says "No buses today. Why? Because of the Pope!!" In Beyazit Square, there was a crowd who was protesting Pope's visit, while the pontiff was visiting Hagia Sofia.
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An unfortunate remark from the highest official of Catholicism and all these reactions from Muslims... No apology from the Pope -mostly because of the nature of his office.- "John Paul II was not like that," said one of my colleagues. Well, here it comes: After all, Benedict XVI made a big surprise and a prayed like he's a Muslim in Sultanahmet Mosque!!! The highest religious official of Istanbul province, Muftu, has called everyone to pray and the Pope faced the Kibla, performing the exact stance of a Muslim believer who is praying and his eyes closed, lips moved and here it comes.
Before the prayer, the Pope said in Italian, "Let us pray for brotherhood and for all humanity." And after the prayer, he told to Muftu, "Thank you for this moment of pray." That "thank you" is much bigger than any apology. Benedict XVI didn't officially apologise for his negative remarks about Prophet Mohammed -because he basically couldn't- but this gesture is even bigger than some sapless words. I'm curious about what these people, my coreligionists, who cursed and swore to the Pope think about. After Pope's remarks, I was somehow disturbed too, but this gesture meant a lot to me. I hope that none of my people would say, "Well, he seemed praying, but he was cursing to us from inside. He was not sincere" I hope that each sane person can understand what a powerful symbol it was and forget about any conspiracy theories. Now I also can say it without hesitation: "Thank you, your holiness."
[The Instanbulian, November 2006]
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