Pope risks tensions on Turkey tour

Last updated at 14:13 29 November 2006


The Pope risked inflaming tensions today on his already controversial tour of Turkey.

Benedict XVI honoured a Catholic priest killed amid Muslim anger over the publication of the Prophet Mohammed cartoons as he celebrated Mass for Turkish Christians in Ephesus - one of the country's most revered sites.

"Let us sing joyfully, even when we're tested by difficulties and dangers as we have learned from the fine witness given by the Rev Andrea Santoro, whom I am pleased to recall in this celebration," he said.

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In February, a teenager shot the priest as he knelt in prayer in his church in Trabzon, in an attack believed to be linked to the cartoons. Two other Catholic priests were attacked this year in Turkey. The Pope's comments come amid safety concerns over his tour of Turkey following anger over a speech in September that linked Islam and violence.

Benedict had held the Mass as part of his efforts to reach out to Turkey's Christian minority.

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