Benedict XVI angered Muslims in September by quoting a 14th-century Byzantine emperor, who disparaged Islam as "evil and inhuman." A significant portion of the pope's trip to Turkey was devoted to repairing the damage done by that speech. In Istanbul, the pope visited the Blue Mosque, where he prayed with the Grand Mufti of Istanbul, Mustafa Cagrici.
Benedict XVI also expressed support of Turkey's bid for membership in the European Union. "How can we fail to think of the various events which took place here and forged our common history?" the pope said.
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