ANKARA (Reuters) - Pope Benedict began a highly charged visit to mostly Muslim Turkey on Tuesday hoping his calls for understanding between religions would soothe anger over his recent comments seen here as insulting to Islam.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan met the Pontiff as he stepped off the plane and then held short talks with him before leaving for the NATO summit in Riga.
Security was heavy for Benedict's first visit to the Muslim world, with sharpshooters on the roof of the arrivals building and troops guarding the airport. About 3,000 police have been posted in the Turkish capital to prevent any protests.
"The scope of this visit is dialogue, brotherhood, a commitment to understanding between cultures, between religions, for reconciliation," the Pope told reporters on board his aircraft before leaving Rome for Turkey.
Benedict infuriated Muslims in September with a lecture that they said seemed to depict Islam as an irrational religion tainted with violence. He later expressed regret at the pain his comments caused but stopped short of a full apology.
About 50 civil servants held a peaceful protest at the Religious Affairs Directorate, where the Pope will meet Turkey's top religious official later on Thursday. Turkey is mostly Muslim but the state is officially secular.
"We are not against his visit but he comes after insulting Islam," said Ufuk Erdem, one of the protesters. "He can visit our country whenever he wants but without insulting our honor."
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