Pavel if Papa Bene dies then he will have confirmed what I always thought of him: He has ever been a man willing to give up everything for Our Lord and Saviour. As it should be...

Dear Pavel you said:

" It will be interesting how many of the Papal party do the visit in collar and tie."

I say:

I believe in Turkey no one is allowed to wear clerical attire. I don't know if there are different rules for visiting clerics.

If anything should happen to the Pope, (heaven forbid), it would really 'shock' the world into reality. I love this Pope, he is so sweet. Hopefully nothing will happen. But he's placing himself in God's hand. I could say the hands of NATO...but my gosh, the Europeans are so secular. Are they any better than the Turks.

Then again, maybe these outrages against Catholic clerics might make Turkey at least try to show the EU a better side by giving more license to the Patriarchate. I doubt it though.

Then again if the prophecies of Malachy are correct, this pope is the last one mentioned...that is before Pope Peter (the Roman?). Then what?

Zenovia

Then what Zenovia? Then war of course one we'll lose. You're right in your estimation of Europeans. If the Turks are bad then we're worse. Turn a blind eye to anything that doesn't agree with the secular agenda e.g. the plight of Christians in 'certain nations'.

Yes all clergy (except the 2 Patriarchs who have been granted a licence to wear their cassocks in public) wear civies when in public. It will be interesting to see what the Popes party will wear on the visit. Those who have checked the pics from HRM will see a group photo of Orthodox Metropolitans out with Bishop John and Igumen Nicholas and all are in lay clothes. The rules in regard to religious dress applies to all religions in Turkey. When Pope John was Nuncio to Turkey he wore a tie. There is a dressing room in the Phanar for visiting clergy to dress up in and put their lay street clothes on after an audience with HH.

I just saw this post and all I can write is that I pray for the day when this scandalous schism comes to an end. I hope this meeting will be the start of the process of a reunification council. "1000" years of separation is "1000" years too long.