Why did Turk/Turkish (don't know which to use) Nationalists threaten the pope when he visited?

Question

I also wonder about the whole Hagia Sophia thing, especially since it was built when there was one Christianity. ex: Why did they not want the pope to pray there? Is it because the Ottoman Turks desecrated (spelling?) the Hagia Sophia and tried to turn it into a mosque by hiding all of the paintings on it? I am very curious about this.

Answer 1

The Turkish nationalists probably have some hostility toward Christianity in the first place, Turkey being predominantly Muslim. The excuse they used was that, in a talk about the interplay of faith and reason, he quoted a Byzantine emperor's "startlingly brusque" (the pope's words) remark criticizing Islam. The pope himself didn't criticize Islam, he was just illustrating the Christian tradition of insisting that faith should not contradict reason.
As for Hagia Sophia, it was turned into a Mosque when the Muslims took over. Later, when Ataturk modernized and secularized Turkey, it was turned into a museum. Opposition to the pope's praying there could have come from strict Muslims or from strict secularists, or both. Ataturk was hostile to all religion, including Islam; so there are different currents of thought in Turkey today.

Answer 2

well, today, if we have problems among Muslim and Cristianity, these problems are because of the religionists (not religious, religionist who tries to get involved in politics with their ideas).. interestingly, a religionist politic party of Turkey in the government invited the pope. but, aggravatings among the Cristianity and Muslim world was and is still going on. The pope had criticized something about Islam and Muslims are annoyed. so they didnt want him in Turkey.

i suggest people to be only religious instead of being a religionist and do whatever they do, but not get involved in politics and make any comment about anything such as any others' religion. religion of someone shouldnt create any difference to another person...

Answer 3

the pope start first by criticized Muhammad.
and the Muslim don't have "forgiveness" listed in their dictionary.