Editing Pope Benedict XVI (section)

==== Turkey ====
{{Main|Holy See–Turkey relations}}
In a 2004 ''[[Le Figaro]]'' interview, Ratzinger said that Turkey, which is demographically Muslim but governmentally [[Secularism in Turkey|secular by virtue of its state constitution]], should seek its future in an association of [[Muslim nations]] rather than the European Union, which Ratzinger stated has Christian roots. He said Turkey had always been "in permanent contrast to Europe and that linking it to Europe would be a mistake".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=31436|title=News Features|website=catholicculture.org}}</ref>

Later visiting the country to "reiterate the solidarity between the cultures," it was reported that Benedict made a counter-statement backing [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|Turkey's bid to join the EU]]. Turkish prime minister [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] said that the Pope told him in their meeting that while the Vatican seeks to stay out of politics, it desires Turkey's membership in the EU.<ref>Krause-Jackson, Flavia and Mark Bentley {{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=a0hofLY1v5.U&refer=europe |title=Pope Benedict Backs Turkey's European Union Bid |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |date=28 November 2006 |access-date=2 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626182256/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=a0hofLY1v5.U&refer=europe |archive-date=26 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6192770.stm |title=Pope calls for religious exchange |work=BBC News |date=28 November 2006 |access-date=2 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025023949/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6192770.stm |archive-date=25 October 2011 }}</ref> However, the Common Declaration of Pope Benedict{{nbsp}}XVI and [[Patriarch Bartholomew&nbsp;I of Constantinople]] implied that support for Turkey's membership in the European Union would be contingent on the establishment of religious freedom in Turkey:<ref>Donohue, William [http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idcategory=34&idSub=160&idArticle=6852 "Pope did not change stance on Turkey and EU"], ''Spero News'', 30 November 2006 [https://web.archive.org/web/20120121121309/http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idcategory=34&idSub=160&idArticle=6852 WebCitation archive]</ref> "In every step towards unification, minorities must be protected, with their cultural traditions and the distinguishing features of their religion."<ref name=":5">{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/november/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20061130_dichiarazione-comune_en.html |title=Common Declaration by His Holiness Benedict XVI and Patriarch Bartholomew I |publisher=Vatican.va |date=30 November 2006|access-date=17 February 2013}}</ref>