ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul on Wednesday sent a congratulatory message to new Pope (Benedict XVI) over his election as the new Pontiff of the Catholic world.
Gul in his message said, ''I am confident that during your tenure, achievements by late Pope John II in the fields of maintenance of world peace and enhancement of interreligious understanding will be further strengthened to the benefit of the entire humanity.''
The message said, ''please accept you holiness, on this occasion, my best wishes for your personal health and happiness as well as your success.''
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also sent congratulatory messages to Benedict XVI.