Pope visits Turkey amidst heavy protest

Pope standing against extremism First off, those protesting the pope's visit are not opposed to the pope but rather the increasingly tolerant tendencies of the Turkish government. Some protestors were quoted as saying they opposed the pope's meeting with Orthodox Christian Patriarch Bartholomew I. Apparently, certain extremist Muslims can't handle the elevated status of a non-Muslim religious leader. Second, this visit is an important step forward in Turkey's development. This is a chance for Turkey to set itself apart from its extremist neighbors and join the civilized world. It goes without saying that such a visit would aid Turkey's effort to join the European Union. The simple fact is that the world is currently in a battle with radical Islam. Just like John Paul II's efforts helped bring down communism, Benedict's efforts can help bring down extremism. That is certainly worth the security risk. -Edward Delp

Pope's visit will alleviate tension This attempt for peace and reconciliation on the part of traditionally warring religious factions is worth any risk. The pope should be applauded for his visit, especially by those who claim a desire for coexistence and cross-cultural understanding and particularly in light of the recent controversy surrounding the pope's comments on Islamic violence. The pope's visit is a responsible, diplomatic choice to set Catholic-Muslim tensions on a path toward healing. Since time immemorial, the historically Christian Europe and Muslim Turkey have been at odds. This gesture of goodwill should be accepted by the Turkish people as a respectful sign of support in their fight for European Union status. Any violent action or terribly vocal protest by the Turkish people would only hurt their own cause and not make any statement about the correctness of the pope. -Grace Low