The Pope is no longer opposed to the integration of Turkey

Phiippe Dumartheray, co-chief editor of the daily, believes that the Pope's visit to Turkey might allow an improvement of relations between the country and the EU. "The Papal visit initially only had a religious purpose: to renew ties between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches in an attempt to overcome more than a thousand years of quarrelling between two branches of Christianity. ... The link between religion and politics is easy to establish. In the case of Benedict XVI, it is quite clear. In the past, when he was only a cardinal, he never concealed his aversion before the sight of Turkey entering the EU. On the first day of his trip, the Pope wil have, on the contrary, defended the welcome of Turkey into the Union. This change of direction is to be followed closely, as it might influence European Christian-Democrats, notably Germans, who are rather hostile to Turkish accession."

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