The world watched with interest (and, perhaps, apprehension) last November when Pope Benedict XVI undertook his first excursion to a Muslim nation. The common thought was that the Vatican had large stakes riding on the visit, and that the pope had to tread carefully.
However, if one takes a step back to look at Rome's long-term goals for the future, the final analysis suggests the visit to Turkey was a "win-win" scenario for Benedict. On one hand, the pope has stressed a desire for "reciprocity"—that is, he wants Roman Catholics in Islamic nations to possess the same expansive freedom to worship and spread their faith that Muslims possess in "Christian" nations. Seeing how desperately Turkey—a generally secular Muslim nation—wishes to be a part of the European Union (EU), this would be just the place to focus his effort to achieve major concessions on this front.
However, the presence in Turkey of abject poverty and other factors that promote the growth of religious extremism makes such concessions a "hard sell." As a 43-year-old Turkish computer salesman stated, "He's coming to advance the ambitions of the Christian world. I don't want him to come" (Associated Press, November 27, 2006). Comments such as this—as well as the many protests the pope's visit inspired—only encourage the conclusion that concessions are, at best, very unlikely.
Yet, while it might seem like a failure if Turkey refuses to yield to the pope's call for increased religious liberty for non-Muslims, this failure would actually provide support for a different victory Benedict is seeking: increased European resistance to Turkey's bid for EU membership.
The Vatican wants a Roman Catholic Europe—a fact visible to anyone with eyes to see. Pope John Paul II strongly admonished a slowly uniting Europe to return to its Roman Catholic "roots," and his successor to the papal throne has previously offered strong words in support of such an idea.
The Associated Press article cited above reminds us that in 2004, the man now called Pope Benedict XVI firmly stated, "Turkey has always represented a different continent, in permanent contrast to Europe." In fact, he even encouraged Turkey to unite with neighboring Arab nations to form their own union (EUobserver, August 16, 2004)—exactly the outcome that many Western politicians fear would transpire should the EU reject Turkey. A very bold stance, indeed, in today's environment—but bold stances are born out of firm convictions, and Benedict is firmly dedicated to seeing a Catholic Europe come to pass.
Some commentators have noted that Turkey's Prime Minster, Tayyip Erdogan, claimed that the pope while in Turkey expressed his church's support for that nation's entrance into the EU—an apparent reversal of Benedict's previous stance. But a careful reading of the Vatican's meticulously crafted official response to Erdogan suggests another interpretation—that the pope will be glad to do what he can to help Erdogan's nation enter the EU—if Turkey continues to make the concessions that have been demanded, which include increased religious freedom for the spread of Roman Catholicism in that nation. Win-win.
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The above is adapted from one of the many commentaries, discussing vital topics facing our world, available at the www.lcg.org and www.tomorrowsworld.org Web sites.