Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Pope Benedict XVI, speaking in Turkey, the European Union's only majority Muslim candidate, called on the bloc to ensure that religious freedom is a criterion for membership and that its ``Christian roots'' are preserved.

``Those engaged in this great project should not fail to take into consideration all aspects affecting the inalienable rights of the human person, especially religious freedom,'' the pope said in a joint declaration with Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos I today in Istanbul. ``In every step toward unification, minorities must be protected.''

The European Union repeatedly has demanded that Turkey expand the rights of religious minorities. Turkey does not recognize Bartholomeos as leader of the world's Orthodox and has refused EU demands to open a closed seminary that has been used to train Orthodox priests.

The pope and Bartholomeos also called for preserving Europe's Christian roots.

``While remaining open to other religions and to their cultural contributions, we must unite our efforts to preserve Christian roots, traditions and values,'' the two said in their joint statement.

The pope's comments during his visit, his first to a Muslim country since his election in April last year, come at a difficult time for Turkey's membership bid.

The EU's executive body yesterday urged a suspension of several chapters of accession talks with Turkey because of its trade embargo on EU-member Cyprus.

On arrival to Ankara, during a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Benedict had said he viewed favorably Turkey's path toward EU membership. As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Benedict had said in 2004 that allowing the Muslim state to join would be a ``grave error.''

To contact the reporters on this story: Ayla Jean Yackley in Istanbul at ayackley@bloomberg.net; Flavia Krause-Jackson in Istanbul at fjackson@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 30, 2006 07:13 EST