The Italian newspaper "La Reppublica" has published an interview with Vatican expert Marco Politi in which Politi attests that, following the terror attacks in London, Pope Benedict XVI now sees how crucial it is to set up a dialogue with Muslims, and may well place extra importance on a trip to Turkey.

Politi maintained in the interview that it was significant that Benedict XVI had not mentioned Islam during his first speech on relations between the major religions, but that the new Pope had recognized during the third month of his papacy that it was crucial to stay the course on Pope John Paul's doctrine on interfaith relations. Politic also pointed out that it was possible to see that Benedict XVI now understands the importance of treating relations with the Islamic world more carefully through the Pope's acceptance of an invitation to Istanbul. Benedict XVI has also reportedly accepted Israeli President Ariel Sharon's invitation to visit Jerusalem sometime in the near future.
 
Before being picked to be a pope, Cardinal Ratzinger was known to have made sharp statements in opposition to Turkey's possible entry into the EU.