More details emerge on Benedict XVI's upcoming visit to Turkey
Güncelleme Tarihi:
A diplomatic crisis brewing over how Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming visit to Turkey would be described by Vatican and Turkish officials has reportedly been overcome at the last moment. Though the Vatican generally described the Pope's various visits to countries around the world as "religious missions," Ankara officials informed the Vatican that since Pope Benedict XVI had been invited by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer himself, the Pope would be accepted in the Turkish capital on arrival as a "foreign leader of state."
Though it was not clear at first whether this would be acceptable to the Vatican, agreement was reached this week on the terms of the Pope's acceptance in Turkey.
When he arrives at Ankara's Esenboga Airport on November 28, Pope Benedict will be greeted by top level government officials, and then whisked over to the Cankaya President Palace to be formally accepted by President Sezer. The Pope will include a visit to the Ataturk mausoleum in Ankara during his stop in the Turkish capital.
The Pope to give President Sezer and antique Bible, book, prayer beads
It has been reported that the Pope will give President Sezer an antique version of the Bible, as well as a book containing some of his own works, and some prayer beads. When he leaves Ankara, Pope Benedict XVI will go on to Izmir, from where he will visit the house near Ephesus where the Virgin Mary is said to have spent some of the last months of her life. It is expected that an enormous number of press members-up to 1,000-will be following the visit of the Pope to Turkey. Prior to Benedict XVI's upcoming visit to Turkey, the last papal visit to this country was by Pope John Paul II, who knelt down and kissed the Turkish ground on descending from his airplane.