Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Antioch (Fides Service) - The death of Pope John Paul II provoked sadness, sympathy and solidarity among national leaders and ordinary citizens as well as fruits of reconciliation, harmony and unity among the different religious communities in Antioch. Members of all the different faiths in Antioch rendered homage to John Paul II, Franciscan Fr Domenico Bertogli on mission in Turkey told Fides. People poured into churches to express their sadness for the death of the Holy Father. Civil authorities, diplomats, political leaders, ordinary citizens and not only Christians, all mourned this holy man’ .
“Turkey has never shown so much interest for a Pope”, lay Catholic woman Maria Grazia Zambon, living in Antioch told Fides, adding. “Pope John Paul II was a man of profound faith, a man of dialogue at all costs, respect for every human person. He was a tireless promoter of peace and unity among Christians, among all believers, and among nations. People here will never forget the deep love he showed by the Middle Eat, a land blessed by God”.
On April 8, at the same time of the funeral Mass in Rome, in a spirit of communion, Catholics of the small local Church organised a prayer meeting in the church courtyard to pray for the Pope. The prayers were led by Fr Domenico. Among those present, besides hundreds of local Catholics, three Greek Orthodox priests, representatives of local Protestant communities, the local Rabbi and the local Mufti as well as civil authorities including the mayor and the university rector. Prayers in Turkish, Hebrew and Arabic were said to thank God for the late John Paul II a gift to humanity and to pray that dialogue and reciprocal respect will be ever present in the Middle East, following the teaching of John Paul II.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 14/4/2004 righe 24 parole 243)
