VATICAN - Vatican has confirmed that Pope Benedict XVI would visit Turkey at the end of November.
In a statement issued today, Vatican Press Office confirmed that the Pope would visit Turkey between November 28th and December 1st.
According to the statement the Pope will be in Ankara on November 28th to meet Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
The Pope will proceed to Istanbul after visiting Izmir and Ephesus. He will attend the Saint Andreas feast on November 30th at Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and will leave Istanbul on December 1st.
Since 1964 the year Vatican, and Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate resumed dialogue, all popes paid attention to visit the Patriarchate. In 1967 Pope Paul VI, and in 1967 Pope Jean Paul II came to Turkey to visit Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. Pope Benedict XVI will be the third pope to visit Turkey in the history of the Republic of Turkey.
Pope Benedict XVI will visit Turkey at President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's invitation.