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Pope Ends Turkey Trip with Istanbul Mass Pope Benedict XVI wraps up his four-day visit to Turkey by saying mass in Istanbul's cathedral. The pontiff began this fence-mending mission under the weight of remarks he made in September that were viewed as offensive to Islam.

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Pope Ends Turkey Trip with Istanbul Mass

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Pope Ends Turkey Trip with Istanbul Mass

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Pope Benedict XVI waves goodbye before boarding his plane to leave Turkey at Ataturk airport on Friday in Istanbul, Turkey. Carsten Koall/Getty Images hide caption

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Carsten Koall/Getty Images

Pope Benedict XVI waves goodbye before boarding his plane to leave Turkey at Ataturk airport on Friday in Istanbul, Turkey.

Carsten Koall/Getty Images

Pope Benedict XVI wraps up his four-day visit to Turkey by saying mass in Istanbul's cathedral.

The pontiff began this fence-mending mission under the weight of remarks he made in September that were viewed as offensive to Islam. He spent much of his visit making conciliatory gestures, while appealing for religious freedom for Turkey's minorities.

A dramatic moment of silent prayer in Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque on Thursday capped a wide-ranging effort to win back Muslim sentiments, which included expressing support for Turkey's steps to become the first Muslim nation in the European Union.