Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, where he was welcomed by the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Patriarch Bartholomew.
Benedict will spend the remainder of his visit as Bartholomew's geust, who is the spiritual head of the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians.
Earlier, the Pope's efforts to emphasize common ground between Christians and Moslems were sharply rebuffed by Al Quaeda, which accused him of aiding what it called a crusade against Islam.
Earlier, Pope Benedict made a fresh appeal for peace in the Middle East.
He was celebrating Mass at Meryem Ana Evi, the house of Mary, near the historic town of Ephesus on the Aegean Sea.
'Let us implore peace and reconciliation, above all for those dwelling in the Land called 'Holy' and considered as such by Christians, Jews and Muslims alike,' the Pope said in a homily.
The 79-year-old arrived in Ephesus this morning on the second day of his four-day visit to Turkey.
He has now arrived in Istanbul where he will spend the remainder of his visit as the guest of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual head of the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians.
