Advertise in this spot on CatholicCulture.org. View all ads.

Catholic World News News Feature

Pope ends Turkish visit December 01, 2006

Pope Benedict XVI underlined the importance of dialogue among different religious groups, as he concluded his 4-day visit to Turkey on December 1.

After celebrating Mass at the Istanbul cathedral on Friday morning, the Holy Father was driven to the city's airport. There he met briefly with local government officials, thanking them for their hospitality during his visit. He also said his goodbyes to the Turkish Catholic bishops, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II, and Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan Filuksinos Cetin-- all of whom traveled to the airport to see him off.

Pope Benedict commented that he had felt "great serenity and great joy" during his trip, and said that he hoped the visit would have a lasting influence as "a sign of friendship among peoples, among religions."

"A part of my heart will remain in Istanbul," the Pontiff said. He said that he hoped to see "a communion between Europe and this city, which is so profoundly European, and which ties the two continents."

Offering his last farewells, the Pope boarded his Boeing 737 at 1 in the afternoon, local time. The flight was expected in Rome at 2:45.