Turkish hijackers "want to send message to Pope"

ROME, Oct 3 (Reuters) The hijackers of a Turkish Airlines plane which was forced to land in Brindisi in Italy today want Italian authorities to deliver a message to Pope Benedict, Italy's civil aviation authority said.

''As far as we know, the hijackers want to talk with Italian authorities to send a message to the Pope,'' a spokeswoman for ENAC told Reuters. The airport has been closed.

REUTERS SP KN2218