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It's joe here, blogging the central themes of tonights show.

Rabiya and Richard are in the Piramid Sanat Art centre in the heart of Istanbul. They've been taking comments on the Pope's visit, and have a live audience with them.

The audience generally feels that the public will welcome the Pope, the Turks are a hospitable people and are looking forward to the opportunity to talk with the Pope.

Mansour from Monrovia, has texted us: "The Pope's visit will bring hope of reconciliation between the two faiths."

Another text comes in: 'I am a christian but the pope's comment is unaceptable he should withdraw them."

A guest in Istanbul points out that typify a common mistaken attitude towards Islam.

Idriss from Ghana texts us: "i don't see reason why Turkey has given the pope visit a green light i'm shocked for someone who shows no respect to islam and its founder!"

None of our Istanbul audience have protested against the Pope's visit and one suggests that the 20,000 protestors may have been 'professionals'.

Peter in Uganda texts: "The reaction of the Turkish people shows their great hospitality which visitors say of them. Well done Turkey."

Among the audience in Istanbul is a strong hope for reconciliation and trust between the religions. 'The Pope's visit could lead to more trust between the Muslim community in Turkey and the Christian community in Europe', says one guest.

"We live in one planet" says one audience member, "if we respect each other and our beliefs, we understand them and don't insult them, we may be able to live together." "We are one people" says another.

Abdullahi Yakub in Nigeriatexts us, "Has the Pope really considered whether Turkey represents the Islamic World?"

Eliab, in Mozambique, has texted in: "Yes the Pontif is a great religious man but Mohamed was never a terrorist. He should apologise to the muslim world during his visit to Turkey".

Ivy in Kenya has texted us: "It seems to me that Moslems and any matter related to them is the media's pet subject for filling time and columns- It's the media which makes it a big deal. Give it up, Have Your Say I am bored."

We're now talking about Darfur and President Bashir's in the region. We're joined by the Sudanese Ambassador to the US.

John Kusolo in Kampala: "The Sudanese president is a liar because there is a humanitarian crisis at Darfur."

Another texter: "If the UN does not forcefully enter Darfur and restore sanity then it has no business in the peace keeping business and should wind up."

Thomas Maqway in Tanzania: "To what extent do sudanese president defined humanitarian problem?people are dying,suffering?Whats wrong with UN troops?"

H Bello in Chad "I was among those that reject the UN deployment, but is obvious that Albashir is a devil incarnated."

The Ambassador to the US is talking about the claim that only 9,000 have died in Darfur: "My President might have mistaken his numbers, he's not an expert on numbers."

Callers are asking questions to the Ambassador. The issue of UN peacekeepers has come up. African Union troops already in Sudan should be increased, says the Ambassador.

Ola Lemboye in Lagos: "Al Bashir should allow peacekeepers instead of lying to the world, it shows he is not a passionate leader."

Kwadwo Agyapong in Ghana: "Omar Al-Bashir should bow down in shame on his comment about the death toll. Can he revive a single soul out of the 9000? He should listen to the world leaders to make peace prevail in Darfur region."

Ishmael is a survivor from Darfur in our London studio. He asks the Ambassador who has killed all these people in Darfur? The Ambassador says it is bandits and uncontrollable Janjaweed militias, but Ishmael says he was attacked by government troops. "All Sudanese must be protected by their Government".

John Senesi in Gambia: "I wonder what the family of Omar Bashir would have felt if his own life was to be among the 9000 he claimed had been taken by his military and militia."

Vanessa is calling us just before catching a flight to Darfur with MSF. She asks the Ambassador "when our surgeries are filling up, why is the Sudanese government doing to facilitate access to patients in need?" He replies that 'we should allow all organisations to help us out of this mess, but we are concerned about the security of those who come to help us - we can't protect them all from bandits.'

Ruben Deng from Kamala: "Omer El Bashir is a military ruler, he does not care whatever happened in other part of the country so long as his interests are being served by his mighty militarymen."

Lauren in Argentina: "I am appalled by Bashir's blatant disregard for the reality of the situation. Without UN intervention, there is no hope for peace. Time is running out."

And a few last texts regarding the Pope's visit:

Samuel in Jerusalem, Israel
Turks are great friends of the west and I think that is why they were so upset by the Pope's original comment.

Foncham from Cameroon
The Pope should not waste his precious time to reconcile with the Muslims because they are anti Christianity.

George from Nigeria
The papal visit to Istanbul is irrelevant there is other war ravaged countries in Africa that really need the peace that the pope's visit will bring to them.