This in turn could pave the way for Mr Erdogan to launch his long-promised new democratic constitution, which would properly embrace the Kurds for the first time in modern Turkish history.

ECONOMIST: Turkey and the Kurds

After the meeting, the pontiff perfomed a ritual expected of all visiting heads of state, laying a wreath at the enormous tomb of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the secular general who founded the modern Turkish Republic.

NPR: Pope Seeks to Boost Image Among Muslims

More than at any time since the modern republic was founded in 1923, Turkish society is questioning received truths (see article and article).

ECONOMIST: Armenians and Turks

As one Islamist, Ali Bulac, puts it, the main question today is not whether Islam can adapt to democracy but whether Turkish democracy can manage to accommodate the modern world's wealth of beliefs and ideologies including political Islam.

ECONOMIST: Turkey

Should the pope pray, make the sign of the cross or get down on his knees while there, he's likely to further anger Turkish Muslims who see him as a modern crusader who wants to reinforce Christianity in Turkey as well as nationalists who see him as the face of western imperialism wanting to carve Turkey up.

NPR: Tensions in Turkey Rise Ahead of Papal Visit

Turkish products dominate the regional capital of Erbil, from the old covered souk to modern showrooms in residential neighbourhoods.

CNN: Turkey emerges as true Iraq war victor