Vatican: Pope not being snubbed by Turkish PM

The Vatican today sought to play down suggestions that Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was snubbing Pope Benedict XVI by attending a Nato meeting during the pontiff’s upcoming visit to the predominantly Muslim country.

In a statement, the Vatican said it was informed long ago that Erdogan – whose Justice and Development Party is Islamic-rooted – might not meet with Benedict during the pope’s November 28 – December 1.