His Holiness

So, as might you have heard, the Pope is in Turkey. And boy, must he regret what he said earlier about Islam being a violent religion. Because Pope Benedict XVI has been acting really out of character since he stepped foot in the country.

First, he said that Islam is a peaceful religion, composed of logic and reason.

Second, he said he wants to see Turkey and the EU together.

Third, when he was leading the mass in Virgin Mary's chapel in Ephesus, he started it out with a Turkish sentence.

Fourth, he waved the Turkish flag after the mass.

Fifth, he said he likes and respects Turks.

Finally, he has been smiling all the time.

This is all very bizarre. I think what happened is that the Vatican was so afraid something might happen to the Pope in Turkey that they did not send the real Pope. They sent a clone or someone who looks like him. But they haven't fooled me at all. The constant smiling and the flag waving has given it away.

In all seriousness, what is going on? The purpose of this visit was not to placate Muslims but to forge stronger ties with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul). Is it because of the protests over his earlier remarks? Up until this point he has been generally critical of Islam and has opposed Turkey's EU membership. Did he have a change of heart? Or is he making nice just to get through the trip?

All of this makes me think that an analysis of Muslims' proclivity to protest any kind of perceived insult from the West is in order. That will be my next post.