Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tarsus (Agenzia Fides) – “The Year of St Paul will be for Tarsus the birthplace of the Apostle of the nations the Year of St Paul and for the entire Catholic Church in Turkey an unforgettable experience”: said Friar Ruben Tierrablanca, Superior of the Friars Minor community in Istanbul, adding “We are all called to live this year of grace in the footsteps of St Paul and to tell the world that humanity has been saved by Jesus Christ the Lord of history.
Fr Ruben told Fides that the Year was officially and ecumenically opened on 21 June in the presence of Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity who prayed: “Let us thank God for the gift of this Apostle whose words and deeds still speak to us today of peace, justice and universal brotherhood urging us to trust God who is provident and merciful and cares for every human person”.
In his homily the Vicar Apostolic of Anatolia Archbishop Luigi Padovese, spoke of St Paul's multicultural mission of: “St Paul's multicultural background made him a citizen of the world and his universal message is for all men and women of all times and all religions. We cannot fail to note that some of his expressions (cfr Phil and Rom) were taken up by the Muslim Holy Book the Koran, which says: ‘Compete with one another in doing good, return all of you to God" (Koran 5,48)”.
In his intervention the Mayor of Tarsus assured those present that the Turkish government and people were ready to welcome Christian pilgrims. In a discourse read by a ministry representative the Turkish minister for religious affairs Ali Bardakoglu expressed interest and willingness to cooperate with initiatives for the Year of St Paul organised in Turkey.
Fr Ruben concluded “Tarsus is also called Holy City. The Year of Saint Paul will bring special blessings and holiness to Christians who have borne witness for two thousand years of the salvation which Christ offers to all humanity ”. Celebrations included a special Mass on 22 June presided by Cardinal Walter Kasper and the extension in Iskenderun at the Don Andrea Santoro Centre for Interreligious Dialogue not far from the Offices of the Catholic Vicariate of Anatolia of a Symposium on St Paul opened at the Istituto di Spiritualità of the Pontificia Università Antonianum.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 1/7/2008 righe 33 parole 349)
