Looking with the right lens (at the Pope's visit to a Mosque)

I've talked before about proudly looking at life through papist glasses, and it seems that Fr. Martin Fox has recently done the same (again, entirely appropriately) for the Pope's recent visit to the Blue Mosque in Turkey:

"Seems to me this is an event that acquires most of its meaning from the lens through which one views it.

If you view it through a fearful/defensive/paranoid lens (surf the blogosphere, you’ll find plenty of examples), it is capitulation, "political correctness," fake nicey-nice, syncretism, etc.

If you view it through the lens of confident trust in the Holy Spirit and in the ability of our very able pope, it is considered, deliberate, courteous, astute.

If you view it through the lens of ultimate triumph, it is victorious, prophetic.

If the latter is less clear, consider—wasn’t there a question some time back about an Imam visiting a Christian cathedral, and how awful that was? Well, which is it: is a leader of a religion coming to the turf of another a sign of strength or of weakness?

Seems to me the very fact a priest entered a mosque represents an invasion of Christian sanctity-— Christ himself has entered, in persona Christi capitis; in fact, not merely a priest, but a bishop, a successor to the Apostles; and not any successor, but Peter’s successor!

Now, some won’t be happy unless he came tossing holy water around and making the sign of the cross. But I would say the pope’s very person-- as bishop and as successor to Peter-- is vastly more significant in bringing Christ into that mosque.

Of course the Muslim triumphalists think they’ve won something, but they believe in Islamic eschatology, whereas we know the truth. Why should we see things through their lens?"

Dom adds his comments next.

I think it's important to note that Pope Benedict was touching his pectoral cross throughout the prayer. And I agree with Dom that we should place our trust in the wisdom of the Pope's decision. Who knows how many Muslims will now be more favorably disposed towards him, as well as Christianity. And that's the image to be focusing on right now.