Expert: Sal - 11/28/2006

Question
Dear Sal,

      Sorry I asked you that question about is Catholics thee only true church I guess I am so cautious with my beliefs I just want to make sure that I am pleasing God the right way. I am a bit worried about our Pope Benedict 16th about the muslims wanting to assasinate him in Turkey. I am praying with all my heart that they dont go that route. It is very mindbogling to see this religious war on the true church of God. Why do muslims hate Catholics what did we ever do to get this? I love every people and nation but I hate what God hates. It is very sad to see this problem in the middle east. Are we close to world war three? Or are we in it. Are bible prophecies being fulfilled now right before our very eyes? Pope had arrived in Turkey on November 28 to begin the 5th foreign voyage of his pontificate.

The Pope's plane touched down at Esemboga airport, outside Ankara, just before 1 in the afternoon. The apostolic nuncio in Turkey, Archbishop Antonio Lucibello, immediately boarded the plane to greet the Holy Father.

When he emerged from the plane, Pope Benedict was greeted by Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who had made a last-minute change in his own travel schedule to greet the papal plane. After a short exchange of greetings-- with the Turkish premier saying that he considered the papal visit "very meaningful," and the Pontiff referring to Turkey as "a bridge" between East and West-- the two men adjourned to a private airport lounge for a private conversation.

Sitting under a large portrait of Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, the Pope and the Turkish prime minister spoke for about 20 minutes. The Pontiff reportedly asked for Erdogan's help in the cause of dialogue between cultures, and the Turkish leader replied that his government was committed to that cause.

Immediately after their airport meeting, Erdogan flew to Latvia for a meeting of NATO leaders, while the Pope traveled in a bulletproof car to the mausoleum of Ataturk!

What do you say of this. The pope has asked a of the faithful to pray for success. Is world war three going to be a holy war?  I also want to know will the mulism country Iran and Iraq (<ancient persia)make a move to send us back to the 19th centry for a few weeks?

Can you help me understand were we are if we are in the 70 week of Daniel or in other prophecy?

Thank you
God bless
Merry Christmas to you......  

Answer
Dear Jacqueline:

I believe that the best thing that you can do right now is to just slow down and study the Catholic faith. I would suggest reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church authorized by the late Pope John Paul II. Also a good book is "This Is The Faith" by Canon Francis Ripley. This book is available from Tan Books at tanbooks.com. They also have a large selection of spiritually oriented books.

Good Luck and Merry Christmas,
Sal