ASIA/TURKEY - A Franciscan missionary in Turkey: “We are not persecuted, we are free to continue our mission in a spirit of ecumenical and inter-religious brotherhood”

Istanbul (Fides Service) - “I can say that none of us feel that we are persecuted. We are here in Turkey to carry on our mission of ecumenical and inter-religious brotherhood with faith and hope”, says Italian Franciscan Fr Ruben Tierrablanca Superior of Saint Mary’s Franciscan Community Draperis, in Istanbul. On the telephone from Istanbul Fr Ruben says that despite the recent murder of Italian missionary Fr Andrea Santoro and attack by fanatic youths on Slovene missionary Friar Martin Kmetec, for the small Catholic community and Catholic Church personnel in Turkey nothing has changed, they still have the excellent relations with other Christians and with the Muslim majority and Muslim leaders.
Yesterday a solemn Requiem Mass to commemorate Fr Andrea Santoro was celebrated at Holy Spirit Istanbul Cathedral organised by the Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul and presided by papal nuncio in Turkey Archbishop Antonio Lucibello. Fr. Ruben, member of Turkish Bishops’ Commission for ecumenical dialogue tells the story: “It was a truly ecumenical gathering. Besides Catholics of different rites, also representatives of Greek and Armenian Orthodox Churches and Protestant Christians and leaders came to join us in a spirit of solidarity and affection. It was a moment of intense spiritual communion, a significant demonstration of desire for unity among Christians”.
The Church was filled to capacity. Civil and Muslim authorities also attended. All the Catholic men and women religious who operate in Turkey were represented: Salesians, Franciscans (Minors, Conventual and Capuchin), Dominicans, Lazzarists, Assumptionists; the Little Sisters of Jesus, the Daughters of Charity and others, and members of the Catholic lay movements Focolarini and Neo Catechumen Way. Fr Ruben says: “All present showed deep devotion and participation. The readings were in Turkish, French and Italian. In his homily, given in Turkish, Bishop Louis Pelatre Apostolic Vicar of Istanbul meditated on the Gospel passage ‘if the wheat grain which falls to the ground does not die it remains alone, but if it dies it produces much fruit” (Jn 12,24). He underlined that Christians should not let suffering experienced today make them anxious, because it opens the path to hope for tomorrow. We are not afraid, we live and share our faith and continue our mission in a spirit of hope”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/2/2006 righe 27 parole 274)