145;A bridge between Islam and Christianity146;

Pope Benedict XVI said on Tuesday that Turkey is a bridge between religions and he appealed for solidarity between cultures after arriving here.

8220;I wanted to come to Turkey because Turkey has become a bridge.. between the religions,8221; Benedict told Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who greeted him at the airport. 8220;It is a democratic, Islamic country and a bridge,8221; the Pope said. 8220;I want to reiterate the solidarity between the cultures,8221; he added. 8220;This is our duty.8221;

Later in the day ,Turkey8217;s chief Islamic cleric, at a joint appearance with the Pope, said growing 8220;Islamophobia8221; hurts all Muslims. 8220;The so-called conviction that the sword is used to expand Islam in the world and growing Islamophobia hurts all Muslims,8221; said Ali Bardakoglu, chief of Turkey8217;s Religious Affairs Directorate.