Navigating a clash of civilizations

He assumes his role as a major player in the great drama of history, a history that marches to the rise and fall of civilizations, says Teodoro C. Benigno in a column in the Philippine Star.

Pope Benedict XVI must defend the doctrines of his church and the institution that embodies them in a " swirling, searching, fast-changing world," writes Mr. Benigno. But when history marches, it often clashes. He cites Samuel Huntington's epic work, " The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of the Old Order."

For Benigno, the Pope must navigate a course between the Scylla and Charybdis (clashing rocks) of great civilizational changes:

•The continuing emergence of Asia (coupling China and India) as the world's economic superpower, replacing America and Britain. The US will presumably share this status before it declines late in the 21st century or even earlier. Britain held it in the 19th century.

•The rivalry of Islam, or better still the warrior forces of Islam which seek to continually throw back the Church of St. Peter and in so doing, hack at its social, economic, and political battlements, not to mention the Vatican's hold on the faith of those in power.

•Western Europe, once the formidable daughter of the Roman Church, is beginning to look at Asia, lured by its vast markets and in the process loosening its traditional alliance with America, the New World paring its moorings with the Old World.

•Where once upon a time, Romano civitas ergo sum (I am a Roman citizen was the supreme password in much of the universe), it could presumably be replaced by Asianus civitas ergo sum. Would St. Peter's Church's heraldry and majesty by then pale in comparison?

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In a widely cited interview in Le Figaro last year, then Cardinal Ratzinger made clear his view on the hotly contested political debate "over allowing Turkey into the European Union," reports IslamOnline. He was opposed to Ankara joining the EU "on the grounds that it is a Muslim nation."

The cardinal publicly cautioned Europe against admitting Islamic Turkey and wrote to bishops the reason for his stand:

The roots that have formed Europe, that have permitted the formation of this continent, are those of Christianity. Turkey has always represented another continent, in permanent contrast with Europe. There were the [old Ottoman Empire] wars against the Byzantine Empire, the fall of Constantinople, the Balkan wars, and the threat against Vienna and Austria. It would be an error to equate the two continents...Turkey is founded upon Islam...Thus the entry of Turkey into the EU would be anti-historical.

'Europe will be Islamic by the end of the century,' historian Bernard Lewis predicted not long ago; however, judging from the writings of the new Pope, he is not likely to be sanguine about this transition. For one thing, the new Pope seems to be aware of the grave danger Europeans face: he has called upon Europe to recover its Christian roots 'if it truly wants to survive.'

The new Pope has criticized Europe's reluctance to acknowledge its Christian roots for fear of offending Islam's rapidly growing and increasingly influential presence in European countries - a presence which, as historian Bat Ye'or demonstrates in her book Eurabia, has been actively encouraged and facilitated by European leaders for over three decades.

The centrist Turkish paper Milliyet described the former cardinal as "one of the fathers of the concept [of] offering Turkey a privileged partnership" instead of EU membership, something Turkey has repeatedly stated it will not accept.

Turkish papers also quoted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan calling on the new pope to " soften his stiff opposition to the Muslim nation's bid to join the European Union," reports IslamOonline. "He has voiced such views as his personal opinion in the past, but his rhetoric may change from now on," Erdogan said.

Commentator Selcuk Gultasli in the pro-Turkish government Zaman daily, called for the pope to modify his previous position.

At a time of rising opposition against Turkey's EU membership in countries like France, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands, the Vatican joining this opposition would send a wrong message not only to Turks but also to Muslims...Undoubtedly, the EU is a secular union ... but despite this secularity the Vatican's influence should not be underestimated.

Also...
• If we like to prevent 'Clash of Civilizations', Turkey is the remedy ( Zaman, Turkey)
• German press split over new Pope ( Deutstche Welle)
• The boy who became Pope ( The Independent)
• EU calls Turkey to normalize relations with Greece ( Zaman)
• Benedict XVI will test religion's 'red-blue' divide ( The Christian Science Monitor)

• Feedback appreciated. E-mail Jim Bencivenga .