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2 Politics and the pontiff in a
Muslim land By Jeffrey Donovan
the pope's apparent opposition to Turkey's
EU bid. Vatican expert and author John Allen
agreed that the pope's position is likely
influencing European leaders.
"Clearly,
the interview that then-cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
gave to the French newspaper Le Monde in 2003, in
which he came out in opposition to Turkey, I
think, did to some extent embolden some of the
conservative forces in Europe to be more assertive
in their
own
opposition," Allen said. "And clearly, if they got
a papal statement in opposition, that would
probably further strengthen their hand."
The European Commission this month warned
EU candidate Turkey to speed up flagging political
reforms, criticizing Ankara for limitations on
freedom of expression and lack of protection for
the rights of women and minorities, among other
concerns.
The pope's position is seen as
stemming from his deep concerns that Europe is
losing its Christian roots and that a Muslim EU
member would only further dilute secular Europe's
sense of Christian identity.
That might
not make Turks feel any better about his visit,
Allen said, but at least it helps to explain his
position.
"Benedict's real concern with
Europe really has nothing to do with whether or
not Turkey takes its place there," he said. "His
real concern is trying to reawaken the Christian
roots of Europe. And I think he's smart enough to
understand that from a certain point of view,
Turkey's admission is a side show - that you can
keep Turkey at arm's length all you want, but as
long as you are continuing to adopt policies that
from his point of view are contradictory to those
Christian roots, then it doesn't accomplish very
much."
As for Turkey's own elusive
identity, that's not the Roman pontiff's business.
But it may well be on his mind this week as he
gazes over the Bosporus, the channel that splits
Istanbul into two halves - one in Europe, the
other in Asia.
The pope is expected to
visit the museum of Ayasofya, a stop on his visit
that has already caused some to protest here. The
6th-century Ayasofya was originally built as a
cathedral, but was converted into a mosque after
Constantinople fell to the Ottomans in 1453.
In a visit apparently recommended by
Turkish authorities as a conciliatory gesture, the
pope was also expected to visit the famed Blue
Mosque on Thursday.
Then he will hold a
series of ecumenical meetings with other religious
leaders. He will pray at the Armenian Apostolic
Cathedral and meet with Patriarch Mesrob II. He
will also meet with the Syrian Orthodox
metropolitan, the grand rabbi of Turkey, and
members of Turkey's small Catholic community.
After saying a Mass on Friday at the
Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, the pope will fly
back to Rome.
Jeffrey Donovan is
a senior correspondent based in Prague. A graduate
of the University of California, Santa Cruz, he
writes mainly about US foreign policy after having
spent 12 years in Europe with news organizations
including Reuters, the Associated Press and the
Economist Group. Donovan has reported from Russia,
Belarus, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Colombia,
among other places.
Copyright 2006,
RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted with the permission ofRadio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201
Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036.
