Following a singular show of personal courage and diplomatic capability, Pope Benedict XVI ends his whirlwind, historic visit to Turkey, a place where threats against his life had circulated days before his arrival and a novel subtitled "Who Will Kill Benedict XVI in Istanbul?" remains on Turkey's bestseller list.

Despite the protests by thousands of angry Muslims about the papal visit, the pontiff pressed ahead with his travel plans. It is admirable to see such a commitment to his mission of fostering reconciliation with Orthodox Christianity.

But even more remarkable, and deeply needed in these war-torn times, were the prayers in a mosque and meetings with leaders of Islam and other faiths. Benedict's controversial address in September included remarks not intended as anti-Islamic, but were construed as such throughout the Muslim world, making such gestures critical. Turkey hasn't shown itself to be a bastion of religious tolerance toward its tiny Christian community, but the pope conducted these exchanges with statesmanship.

Even the prickly issue of Turkey's candidacy for admission to the European Union was handled delicately. Before assuming the papacy, Benedict had criticized the idea on the basis of Europe's largely Christian identity. On this trip, however, he navigated through these rough waters by asserting that the Vatican is not opposed. Technically, the Vatican does not comment on specific political policies, so this defused the situation without bending the facts.

While these olive branches can't bridge a centuries-old rift, and Islamic sectarianism complicates the healing, Pope Benedict XVI deserves credit for starting a conversation in a world where words of conciliation tend to stick in the throat.