R-56 Orthodox chief urges Turks not to create unpleasant incidents durintg Popes visit Nov 28 - Dec 01

Orthodox chief urges Turks on pope visit ANKARA, Turkey - The spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians cautioned Turks in an interview published Sunday against creating "unpleasant incidents" during
Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming trip to Turkey — his first to a Muslim country.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said in an interview in the Sabah newspaper that the pope's Nov. 28-Dec. 1 trip was a great opportunity for Turkey, and he would tell the pontiff that the country belonged in the European Union, which Ankara has long sought to join.

Turkish authorities have said they expect protests against the pope, who angered Muslims by a speech he made in September in which he quoted a Byzantine emperor's remarks about Islam and violence. Benedict has expressed regret that his remarks had caused offense, and has stressed they did not reflect his personal opinion....