GUARD OF HONOUR AT AIRPORT; CROWD; SUNAY; AIRCRAFT; NEWSMEN; POPE OFF AIRCRAFT; CAMERAMEN; POPE GREETED BY ATHENAGAROS AND OFFICIALS; MOTORCADE; POPE WALKS THROUGH CROWD; POPE AT CATHEDRAL ALTAR; POPE SPEAKS; POPE DOWN AISLE THROUGH CROWD.




Initials GHB/V&EURO-TELE/CR/SGM



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Background: POPE PAUL BEGAN A TWO-DAY VISIT TO TURKEY TODAY (TUESDAY) IN A QUEST FOR CHURCH UNITY. HE WAS CHEERED BY SMALL CROWDS OF CHRISTIANS IN WHAT IS MAINLY A MOSLEM COUNTRY.

A CROWD OF ABOUT 2,000 WAVED AND CHEERED AT THE AIRPORT, WHERE POPE PAUL WAS GREETED BY TURKISH PRESIDENT CEVDET SUNAY, PRIME MINISTER SULEYMAN DEMIREL AND ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH ATHENAGORAS OF THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH.

THE 69-YEAR OLD PONTIFF WAS MAKING THE VISIT TO SEEK WAYS OF REUNITING ROME WITH THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH AFTER NINE CENTURIES OF SCHISM, AND TO DISCUSS HOW BEST TO SAFEGUARD CHRISTIAN SHRINES IN THE HOLY LAND AFTER THE MIDDLE EAST WAR. HE WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE TALKS WITH PATRIARCH ATHENAGORAS AND PRESIDENT SUNAY AND TO VISIT ANCIENT MONUMENTS OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH AT EPHESUS ON THE AEGEAN.

AFTER A FORMAL EXCHANGE OF GREETINGS AT THE AIRPORT THE POPE DROVE THE 12 MILES (20 KILOMETRES) INTO THE CITY ALONG A SIX-LANE HIGHWAY, LED BY A POLICE MOTOR CYCLE ESCORT. HE STOPPED BRIEFLY AT ISTANBUL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL TO PRAY FOR THE UNITY OF ALL WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST.

POPE PAUL FLEW FROM ROME ON THE FIFTH FOREIGN TRIP OF HIS FOUR-YEAR REIGN. SCARLET COATED MILITARY BANDSMEN PLAYED THE TURKISH AND VATICAN ANTHEMS AS THE POPE AND THE PRESIDENT WALKED TO A DAIS. HIS ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL WAS SIGNALLED BY A 21-GUN SALUTE.

PRESIDENT SUNAY WELCOMED THE POPE IN TURKISH, AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC LEADER REPLIED IN FRENCH, EXPRESSING SYMPATHY FOR THE VICTIMS OF SATURDAY'S EARTHQUAKE. HE LATER CALLED ON THE PRESIDENT AT THE SHALE KIOSK PALACE AND PRAISED TURKEY FOR ENSURING THAT ITS RELIGIOUS SHRINES WERE KEPT OPEN TO PILGRIMS OF ALL NATIONS.