(euronews) - His visit starts next Tuesday. But already tight security is in place as Turkey prepares to receive Pope Benedict XVI. The authorities are taking no chances with street protests planned against the pontiff who will be making his first official trip to a Muslim country.
In something of a U-turn, the Turkish prime minister has now said he aims to meet the Pope on his arrival. Previously, Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office had announced he would be too busy, attending a NATO summit and other meetings, reports Trend.
The visit, which could see the pope touring Istanbul's famous Blue Mosque, is being billed by Turkish officials as an opportunity to heal wounds. In September, his comments on Islam infuriated many Muslims worldwide. Pope Benedict later expressed regret over the pain his remarks caused but stopped short of a full apology.
With the visit sparking much debate, Turkey's top Muslim official has said the Pope can expect to receive a hospitable reception. Ali Bardakoglu believes the visit is a positive step towards developing dialogue.
But that view is not held universally and Islamist activists have been distributing leaflets calling for a mass demonstration against the visit this weekend. They are hoping up to a million protesters will take part.