Pope Benedict XVI spoke out against the legal recognition of unmarried couples during his Christmas address to Rome clergy. He also spoke of Europe and of his visits to Turkey and the former Nazi death camp Auschwitz earlier this year. The pope this week has also been urging to defend the spirit of Christmas against secular trends. For VOA, Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome.

On a traffic-choked boulevard in Ankara, in central Anatolia, the bleeping of car horns and the rattle of buses mix with the muezzin's airy call to evening prayer. Is this the sound of a new Europe? Perhaps. But for Pope Benedict XVI, who arrives in the city today for his first visit to a Muslim-majority country, that's a problem.

He is yet to arrive, but Turks are already protesting. Pope Benedict XVI on November 28 kicks off a controversial, four-day visit to Turkey, his first trip to a mostly Muslim country.

Thousands of demonstrators are gathering in Istanbul today to protest against Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming visit to Turkey: a predominantly Muslim country.

Turkey must be ready for Pope Benedict 16th visit to Ankara and Istanbul starting November 28, which, according to the Turkish "Radikal," will be rather difficult.